m 


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i 


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jrf  ^dtfflfiua* 


No. 

Division ^A...... 

^  r  •  10 
«^ 

Received 


187^ 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


Seasonable   Thouhts 


ON    THE 


State    of  ,  Religio 


In  NEW-ENGLAND, 

A  TREATISE   in   five  Parts. 


I.  Faithfully  pointing 
out  the  Things  of  a  BAD 
and  DANGEROUS   TEN- 
PEN  c  Y,  in  the  late^  and 
'frefent,  religious  Appear 
ance  ^  in  the  LAND. 
1  II.    Reprefenting    the 
OBLIGATIONS  which  lie 
upon  the  PASTORS   of 
THESE  CHURCHES  in  par 
ticular,  and  upon  ALL  in 
general,  to  ufe  their  En 
deavours  to  fupprefs  pre- 
*,„;;;*,,»  QtjbrdeKs  ;    with 
:~R  E  AT  DANGER  of  a 
in  ib  important  a 
Matter, 

With  a   P  R  E  F  A  c  E 

Giving;  an  Account  of  the  ANTINOMIANS,  FAMIIISTS 
and  LIBERTINES,  who  infe£ted  thefe  Churches,  above 
an  hundred  Years  ago  :  Very  needful  for  thtje  Days  ;  the 
LIKE  SPIRIT,  and  ERRORS,  prevailing  now  zs>M  then. 

The  whole  being  intended,  and  calculated,  A  to  fcrve 
the  Inter  eft  of  CHRIST'S  Kingdom. 

BY  CHARLES  QHAUNCY.  D.  D. 

P aft  or  of  the  firil  Ch  urch  of  CH  R  i  s  T  in  3  o  s  T  o  j . 


III.  Opening,  in  ;.^-:v 
Infianccs.. -wherein  theDis- 

COURAGERS  of  1\ 

rities  have  been  INJURI 
OUSLY    TREATED. 

IV.  Shewing  whst 
ought  to  be  c  o  R  R  E  CT  E  0.5 
or  AVOIDED,  ihkteftifyipg 
againft  the  evil  Things  of 
the  prefent  Dav. 

V,  Directing  our  ThoiVj 
more  pofaivdy^  to  what 
may  be  judged  the  BEST 
EXPEDIENTS,  to  pf, 
pure  an-ci 
in  tfcefe  Times. 


BOSTON,  Printed  by  ROGERS  and  FOWLE,  for 
SAMUEL  ELIOT  in  CornbilL     1743. 


THE 


PREFACE, 


\F  the  following  Treatife  is,  in  any  tolera 
ble  Meafure,  adapted  to  ferve  the  Ends 
of  Religion,  by  guarding  People  a- 
gainfl  the  Errors  in  Dodlrine,  and 
Diforders  in  Praftice,  which  have,  of 
late,obtaind  in  many  Parts  of  the  Land,  there  can  be  no 
need  of  an  Apology  for  its  Publication:  If  it  is  not,  the 
ufual  Excufes  upon  fuch  an  Occafion  are  well  known ; 
and  I  may  claim  the  Benefit  of  them,  in  common  with 
others. 

In/lead  therefore  of  fay  ing  any  Thing  upon  this  Head, 
I  /ball  look  back  to  the  fitft  Times  of  this  Country, 
when  there  was  the  Prevalence  of  an  erroneous,  en-' 
thufiaftic  Spirit,  beyond  what  has  been  known  from 
that  Day  'till  the  late  Appearance,  in  fo?ne  Places, 
in  NEW-ENGLAND  :  And  I  the  rather  chufe  to  in- 
Jert  here  fome  brief  Account  of  the  religious  State  of 
Affairs  in  thofeDays,  becaufe  of  its  furprifing  Agree 
ment,  in  many  Injlances,  with  what  has  happened  in 
thefe  Times  ,-  which,  if  duly  attended  to,  will  not 
only  prepare  the  Reader  for  what  he  may  meet  with 
in  the  lolling  Sheets,  but  powerfully  tend  to  undeceive 
him,  if  he  has  entertained  a  good  Opinion  of  fuch 
.fbmgs  as  have,  once  already,  raifed  Dfiurbances  in 
t,K  Country,  to  the  Grief  of  our  firft  Fathers,  who 

A  2 


IV 


The    PREFACE 


mff*j  juftfy  be  ran^d>  among  the  mojl  pious  and  valua 
ble  Men,  who  have  yet  liv'd  in  it. 

Not  many  Tears  after  the  Settlement  of  our  Pro 
genitors  in  this  Land,  f owe,  who,  through  an,Excefs 
of  Heat  in  their  Imaginations,  had  been  betrayed  into 
various  imfound  and  dangerous  Opinions,  came  over  to 
them  from  ENGLAND.  They  had  not  been  here  long, 
before  they  freely  vented  their  Notions  among  the  Peo~ 
pje,  Multitudes  of  whom.,  both  Men  and  Womeny 
Church-members  and  others.,  were  foon  led  afide,  to  the 
Hindrance  of  the  Gofpel,  and  throwing  thefe  Churches 
Mto  great  Cortfufwn. 

My  Purpofe  is  to  flow  diftinttly,  though  briefly , 

What  thefe  Opinions  were, 

How  they  fpread  fo  -fait,  and  prevailed  fo  fud- 
denly. 

How  they  did  rage  and  reign,  when  they  had  once 
gotten  Head. 

How  they  fell  and  were  rained,  when  they  were  at 
highefLg  " 

As  for  the  Opinions :— -  They  were  fuch  as  thefe, 
viz. 

I.  He  that  hath  the  Seal  of  the  SPIRIT  may  cer 
tainly  judge  cf  any  P  erf  on,  whether  he  be  elected  or  no. 


§  This  is  the  Method  of  Mr.  T.  WELDE  (one  of  the 
frft  Preachers  in  our  ROXBERRY)  in  his  Preface  to 
the  Story  of  the  ANTINOMIANS  &c.  in  NEW-ENG 
LAND  ;  whofe  Language  alfo  I  have  thought  fit 
chiffiy  to  ijfe.  The  Words  dillinguifh'd  by  inverted 
Commas  are  always  his  3  unlefs  where  I  give  Notice 
to  the  contrary. 

2.  Such 


The    P  P.  E  F  A  C  E.  v 

2.  Such  as  fee  any  Grace  of  GOD  in  themfehes, 
before  they  have  the  AiTurance  of  GOD'S  Love  fealed 
to  them,  are  not  to  be  received  Members  of  Churches. 

3.  The  due   Search '.and  Knowledge   of  the  Holy 
Scripture,,  is  not  a  fafe  and  fure  Way  of  finding 
CHRIST. 

4.  There  is  a  Tejllmony  of  the  SPIRIT,  and  Voice 
to  the  Soul,  meerly  immediate,'  without  any  Reflect 
to,  or  Concurrence  with  the  Word,. 

5.  The  Seal  of  the  S*°IRIT  is  limited  only  to  the 
immediate  Witnefs  of  the  SPIRIT  ;    and  doth  never 
witncfs  to  any  Work  of  Grace,  or  to  any  Canclufan 
by  a  Syllogifm. 

6.  No  Minifter  can  teach  one  that  is  anointed  by 
the  SPIRIT  of  CHRIST,  more  than  he  knows  already 
unkfs  it  be  in  fome  Cir  cum  fiances. 

7.  No  Minifter  can  be  an  Inftrument  to  convey 
more  of  CHRIST  unto  another,  than  he  by  his  own 
Experience  hath  come  up  to. 

8.  A  Man  is  not  effe&ually  converted,  -'till  he 
hath  full  Murance. 

9.  A  Man  cannot  evidence    his  Juftification  by 
his  Sanctification,  but  he  muft. needs  build  upon  his 
San^ification,  and  trail  to  it. 

10.  The  immediate  Revelation  of  my  good  Eft  at  e^ 
without  any  Refpeffi  to  the  Scriptures,  is  as  dear  t& 
me  as  the  Voice  of  GOD  from  Heaven  to  PAUL. 

11.  It  /.f  #' Fundamental  and  Soul-damning  Er 
ror,  to  make  San&ification  an  Evidence  of  Juftifi 
cation. 

12.  The  SPIRIT  givctb  fiicb  full  and  clear  Evidence 
of  my  good  Eft  ate,  that  I  have  w  Need  to  be  tried  by 
the  Fruits  of  Sanctirlcation  :     This  were  to  light  a 
Candle  to  the  Sun. 

13.  Sanftification  is  fo  far  from  evidencing  a 
good  Eftate,  that  it  darkens  it  rather  ;     and  a  Man 
may  more  clearly  fee  CHRIST  when  he  feet h  no  Sanc- 

A  3  tificaticn, 


vi  The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

tification,  than  when  he  doth  :  The  darker  my  Sanc- 
tification  is,  the  brighter  is  my  Juftification. 

14.  If  a  Member  of  a  Church  be  unfatisfied  with 
any  Thing  in  the  Church,  if'he  exprefs  his  Offence, 
whether  he  hath  ufed  all  Means  to  convince  the  Church 
or  no,  he  may  depart. 

15.  If  a  Man  think  he  may  edify  letter  in  ano 
ther  Congregation,  than  in  his  own,  that  is  Ground 
enough  to  depart  ordinarily  from  Word,  Seals,  Fall 
ings,  Feaflings,  and  all  Adminiftrations  in  his  own 
Church,    notwithflanding    the    Offence    of    the 
Church  often  manifeiled  to  him  for  fo  doing. 

1 6.  Where  Faith  is  held  forth  by  the  Miniftry,  os 
the  Condition  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace  on  Man  s 
Party  as  alfo  evidencing  Juftification  by  San6lifi- 
cation,  and  the  Activity  of  Faith,  in  that   Church 
there  is  not  fufficient  Bread.* 

Thefe  are  a  few  of  the  Errors,  with  which  many  be 
gan  to  be  infefted  ;  /  fay  a  few,  becaufe  their 
whole  Number  amounted'  to  upwards  of  fourfcore.  1 
fJoould  willingly  have  prefented  the  Reader,  with  a 


*  Thefe  Opinions,  however  abfurd,  were  yet,  many 
of  them,  ftrongly  pleaded  for,  as  of  vaft  Impor 
tance  :  Hence,  among  the  Reafons  given  for  the 
meeting  of  the  Synod,  in  1637,  to  confider  of  thefe 
Matters,  this  is  one,  becaufe  the  Opinionifls  "  pre- 
**  tended  fuch  aNsw-LiGHT  as  condemned  all  the 
**  Churches,  as  in  a  Way  of  Damnation  ;  and  the 
*'  Difference  to  be  in  Fundamental  Points,  even  as 
"  wide  as  between  Heaven  and  Hell  :  And  hence 
"  it  was  conceived,  that  all  the  Churches  {hould  con- 
"  fider  of  thisMatter^thatjif  it  were  a  Truth, it  fhould 
"  be  univerfally  embraced  ;  but  if  it  were  an  Error  or 
"  Herefy  it  might  be  univerfally  fuppreiTed,  fo  far  as 
"  fuch  a  Meeting  could  reach.  Afanufcript  Copy  of  toe 
Proceedings  of  the  Synod ^  in  1637,  Page  3. 

Lift 


The    PREFACE.  vii 

Lift  of  them  all  ;  but,  not  having  Room,  choofe  to 
confine  my f elf-  to  thofe  only  which  might  be  thought  to 
bear  a  Refemhlance  to  the  unfafe  Tenets  of  the  pre- 
fent  Day.  The  reft  may  be  feen  in  the  Book,  entit 
led,  The  Story  of  the  Rife,  SV,  of  Antinomian- 
ifm,  &c,  in  NEW-ENGLAND.  And  let  me  add,  the 
Account  there  given  of  thefe  Errors  may  be  depend 
ed  on  ;  for  having  had  Opportunity  to  compare  it 
with  an  ancient  Manufcript  Copy  of  the  Proceedings 
cf  the  Synod,  in  1637,  I  find  it  to  he  a  very  exact 
Catalogue  of  the  Opinions  condemned  by  that  Aflem- 
bly  of  Churches,  f 

It  may,  at  firft,  View  feem  ftrange,  how  thefe 
Errors  (  many  of  them  being  fo  grofs  )  fhould  fpread 
fo  faft,  and  prevail  Jo  generally  ;  but  the  fr&nder 
mil  ceafe,  if  we  "  conjider  the  Slights  they  ufed  in, 
fomenting  their  Opinions  :  Some  of  which  I  /hall  fet 
down  ;  as, 

I.  They  laboured  much  to  acquaint  themfetves  with 
as  many  as  pqffibly  they  could,  that  fo  they  might 
have  the  better  Opportunity  to  communicate  their  NEW- 
LIGHT  to  them. 

"  2.  Being  once  acquainted  with  them,  they  wouW 
"  Jlrangely  labour  to  infinuate  themfelves  into  their 

•f  "   All  the  Churches   unanimoufly  confented 'to    the 

cc  Condemnation  of  them, except  diverfe  of  BOSTON, 

"  one  or  two  at  CHARLESTOWN,  one  at    SALEM, 

"  one  at  PLYMOUTH,  one  at    DUXBURY,  two  at 

*•  WATERTOWN   :     And  althoagb- Mr.  COTTONT 

<c  fet  not    down  his  Hand  as  the  reft  of  the  Elders 

f  did   ;     yet  he  thus  exprefied  himfelf,  in   Difrclifh 

'  of  them,  that  fome  ivere  blafpbemaus  and  heretical, 

<c   many   erroneous,   and  all  incongruous  "        A4anu- 

fcript  Copy.      P.  46. 

A  4  "  Affeftions, 


viii  The    PREFACE. 


r,  by  loving  Salutes,  humble  Carriage,  kind 
lnviiemf;its,  friendly  Vifits  ;  and  fo  they  would 
"  win  upon  Men,  and  Jleal  into  their  Bofoms,  before 
"  they  were  aware  :  Tea,  as  foon  as  any  New- 
"  Comers  (efpecialiy  Men  of  Note,  Wonh  and  Acti- 
"  vhy,  fit  Injtruments  to  advance  their  Dcfign  ) 
"  were  landed,  they  would  be  fire  to  welcome  thtrn, 
"  fjjcw  them  all  Court '/fy,  and  offer  them  Room  in 
c  their  own  Houfes,  or  of  fome  of  their  Seel  ;  and 
cc  having  gotten  them  into  {heir  Web,  they  could  eafily 
"  foifon  them  by  Degrees  :  It  was  rare  for  any 
"  Man  thus  hooked  in  to  efcape  their  Leaven. 

"  3.  (  Eecaufe  fuch  Men  as  would  f educe  others 
<c  had  need  be  fome  Fyray  eminent^  they  would  appear 
"  very  humble,  holy  and  fpiritual  CHrijiians,  and  full 
4  of  CHRIST  ;  they  would  deny  themfefaes  far, 
fpeak  excellently,  pray  with  Soul  ravi firing  Expref- 
wns  and  Affections,  that  a  Stranger  that  loved 
Goodnefs  could  not  but  love  and  admire  them,  and 
fo  be  the  more  eajily  drawn  after  them  ;  looking 
upon  them  as  Men  and  Women  as  likely  to  know 
the  Secrets  of  CHRIST,  and  Bofom-Counfels  of  his 
SPIRIT,  as  any  other.  And  this  Opinion  of  them 
r?ffis  the  more  lifted  up,  through  the  Simplicity  and 
PFeaknefs  of  their  Followers,  who  would,  in  Admi 
ration  of  them,  tell  others,  that,  fmce  the  Apoille's 
Time,  they  were  perfwadcd,  none  ever  received  fo 
much  Lighc  from  GOD,  as  fuch  and  fuch  had 
done,  naming  their  Leaders. 

"  41  As  they  woitld  lift  up  themfelves,  fo  alfo  their 
Opinions^  by  guUdlng  than  ever  with  fpecious  Terms 
of  free  Grace,  glorious  Light,  Gofpel  Truths, 
as  holding  forth  naked  CHRIST  :  And  this  took 
much  with  j^,)- pie  honejl  Hearts  that  loved  CHRIST  ;, 
efpecially ^  with  new  Converts,  who '  were  lately 

under 


Ji 


The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  ix 

<c  under  Sin  and  Wrath,  and  had  newly  tajled  the 
«  S-wcetnefs  of  free  Grace.  Being  now  in  their  firft 
"  Lorn  to  CHRIST,  they  were  exceeding  glad  to 
"  embrace  any  Thing  that  might  further  advance 
"  CHRIST,  and  free  Grace  ;  and  fo  drank  them 
"  in  readily. 

"  5-  ff  they  met  with  Chrijlians  that  were  full 
"  of  Doubts  and  Fears  about  their  Conditions,  (  as 
"  many  tender  and  godly  Hearts  there  were  )  they 
"  would  tell  them,  they  had  never  taken  a  right 
"  Courfe  for  Comfort,  but  had  gone  on  (  as  they 
"  were  led  )  In  a  legal  Way  of  evidencing  their 
«  good  Eftate  by  San&ification,  and  gazing  after 
"  (Qualifications  in  themfelves  ;  and  would  fhe-iv 
"  them,  from  their  own  Experience,  that  themfelves, 
"  for  a  long  Time,  were  befooled  even  as  they  are 
"  now,  in  poring  upon  Graces  in  themfelves,  anl 
u  while  they  did  fo,  they  never  proffered,  but  were 
cc  driven  to  pull  all  that  Building  down,  and  lay 
"•  better  and  furer  Foundations  in  free  Grace ;  and 
"  then  would  tell  them  of  this  Gofpel-Way  we  fpeak 
"  of,  how  they  might  come  to  fuch  a  fettled  Peace, 
"  that  they  might  never  doubt  more,  though  they 
«  fliould  fee  no  Grace  at  all  in  themfelves  :  An& 
"  fo  (as  it  is  faid  of  the  Harlot's  dealing  with  the 
"  young  Man,  Prov.  7.  21.)  with  much  fair  Speech 
"  they  caufed  them  to  yield,  with  the  flattering  of  their 
<'  Lips  they  forced  them* 

cc  6.  They  commonly  laboured  to  work  firfl  upon 
(i  Women,  being  (as  they  conceived")  the  weaker  to 
<-  rejifl  ;  the  more  flexible,  tender,  and  ready  to 
"  yield  :  And  if  they  could  once  wind  in  them,  they 
(C  hoped  by  them,  as  by  an  EVE,  to  catch  their  Huf- 
"  bands  aJfo  ;  which  indeed  often  proved  too  true  a- 
<(  motig  us  then. 

7.  A* 


cc 

tf 


The    PREFACE. 

7.  As  foon  as  they  had  thus  wrought  in  them- 


fehes,  and,  a  good  Conceit  of  their  Opinions,  by  all 
"  thefe  Ways  of  Subtilty,  into  the  Hearts  of  People  ; 
<l  nexfly,  they  ftrongly  endeavoured,  with  all  the 
"  Craft  they  could,  to  undermine  the  good  Opini- 
"  on  of  their  Minifters,  and  their  Dodlrine,  and 
"  to  work  them  clean  out  of  their  Affections  ;  telling 
"  them,  they  were  forry  that  their  Teachers  had  to 
u  mifled  them,  and  trained  them  up  under  a  Cove- 
"  nant  of  Works,  *  and  that  them/elves  having 
"  never  been  taught  of  GOD,  it  is  no  Wonder 
"  they  did  no  better  teach  them  the  Truth,  and  how 
"  they  may  fit  'till  Dooms-Day  under  their  legal 
"  Sermons,  and  never  fee  Light;  and  withal,  fome- 
cf  times,  caftingAfperfions  on  theirPerfons,and  Prac- 
u  tice,  as  well  as  Do6lrine,  to  bring  them  quite  out 
"  of  Efleem  of  them.  And  this  they  did  fo  effectually 


*  Mr.  JOHNSON,  writing  of  thefe  Times,  obferves, 
"  that  the  good  old  Way  would  not  ferve  the  Turn 

6  with  certain  Se&aries,  who,  like  cunning  Sophif- 
"  ters,  feeing  the  Bent  of  the  People's  Hearts  (after 

e  fo  many  Mercies  received  )  was  to  magnify  the 
"  -rich  Grace  of  GOD  in  CHRIST,  began  to  tell 

4  the  People   (  yet  very  privately  )   that  the  mofl^  if 

*  not    all  the   Minifters  among  them,  preached  a 
'  Covenant  of  Works ^   either  courfe    or  fine  ;     and 

*c  with  a  what  do  you  fay  to  this  ?  Vid.  his  Won- 
der-working  Providence  of  SIGN'S  SAVIOUR,  P.  93. 
In  the  next  Page  he  goes  on  to  fpeak  of  them,  <c  as 
"  perfwading  the  People,  their  Minifters  were  legal 

c  Preachers^  teaching  them  little  better  than 
"  Popery^  and  unfit  for  Gofpel  Churches. Here's 

4  nothing,   fays  one  of  them,  but   preaching  out  of 

*  the  Law  and  the  Prophets.    Truly,    fays  another 
'  of  them,   I  have  not  heard   a  pure  Gofpel-Sermon 

"  from  any  of  them." 

that 


The    PREFACE.  xi 

"  that  many  declined  hearing  them,  though  they 
"  were  Members  of  their  Churches  ;  and  others 
"  that  did  hear,  were  fo  filled  with  Prejudice  that 
"  they  profited  not,  but  ftudied  how  to  objeft 
"  againft  them,  and  cenfure  their  Doctrine,  which 
"  (whilfl  they  flood  right)  was  wont  to  make  their 
"  Hearts  to  melt  and  tremble.  Tea,  fome  that  had 
«  been  begotten  to  CHRIST  by  fome  of  their  faith- 
"  ful  Labours  in  ENGLAND,  for  whom  they  could  have 
"  laid  down  their  Lives,  and  not  being  able  to  bear 
"  their  Abfence  followed  them  to  NEW-ENGLAND,  to 
"  enjoy  their  Labours  ',  yet  thefe,  falling  acquainted 
"  with  thoff  Seducers,  were  fuddenly  fo  altered  in 
"  their  Affections  towards  thofe  their  J pint  ual  Fathers, 
fs  that  they  would  neither  hear  ihem,  nor  willing- 
"  ly  come  in  their  Company  ;  profeiling  they 
te  had  never  received  any  Good  from  them. 

"  8.  They  would  not,  'till  they  knew  Men  well, 
"  open  the  whole  Myjlery  of  their  new  Religion  to 
"  them  ;  but  this  was  ever  their  Method,  to  drop  a 
"  little  at  once  into  their  Followers  as  they  were  ca- 
"  pable,  and  never  would  adminifler  their  Phyfick, 
"  'till  they  bad  given  good  Preparatives  to  make  it 
"  work,  and  then  flronger  and  ftronger  Potions,  as. 
(f  they  found  the  Patient  able  to  bear. 

9.   They  would  in  Company,  now  and  then,  let 
fome  of  their  moft  plaufible  Errors,  as  a  Bait 
laid  down  to  catch  withal  :     Now  if  any  began  to 
nibble  at  the  Bait,  they  would  angle  Jlill,  and  ne 
ver  give  over  'till  they  had  caught  them  ;  but  if  any 
fhould  efpy  the  naked  Hook,  and  fo  fee  their  Danger, 
andprotejl  againft  the  Opinions,  then  you  ftould  have 
them  fairly  retreat,  and  fay,  nay,  miflake  me  not, 
for  I  do ,  mean  even  as  you  do  ;     you  and  I  are 
both  of  one  Mind  in  Subjlance,  and  differ  only  in 


Xii  The    PREFACE. 

"  Words. — By  this  Machivilian  Policy,  thefe  Delu- 
"  ders  were  reputed  found  in  their  Judgments^  and 
"  fo  were  able  to  do  the  more  Hurt,  and  were  longer 
"  undetected. 

cc  10 — ii.  But  the  la  ft  and  worjl  of  all,  and 
"  which  moft  fuddenly  diffuid  the  Venom  of  thefe  O- 
fc  pinions  into  the  very  Veins,  and  Vitals  of  the  Peo- 

"  pie  In  the  Country,  was  Mrs. double  week- 

(f  ly  J,e6iure." — This  Mrs.  ,  to  give  fome  Ac 
count  of  her,  from  the  Author  of  the  Rile  and  Reign 
of  AnJnomianifm  in  NEW- ENGLAND,  Pag.  33,  34. 
was  a  Woman  of  a  nimble  Wit  and  active  Spirit  y  and 
a  very  voluble  Tongue,  more  bold  than  a  Man,  though 
in  Underftanding  and  Judgment,  inferior  to  many 
Women.  She  had  dif covered  fome  of  her  Opinions  In 
the  Ship  as  (he  came  over,  which  occaftond  fome  De 
lay  of  her  Admifjion,  when  foe  firjl  defer  'd  Fellow/hip 
with  the  Church  of  BOSTON  ;  but  by  colouring  her 
Opinions,  [he  got  admitted  into  the  Church,  and  foon 
went  to  PVork  ;  and  being  a  Woman  very  helpful 
in  the  Times  of  Child-Birth,  and  other  Occafions  of 
bodily  Infirmities,  and  well-furnifh'd  with  Means  for 
thofe  'Purpofes,  fbe  eafily  infenuated  her  felf  into  the 
Mffeftions  of  mtfny  ;  and  -the  rather,  hecaufe  fljz 
was  very  inquijitive  about  their  fpiritual  Eftates,  and 
in  dlfcovering  to  them  the  Danger  they  were  in  by 
trufting  to  common  Gifts  and  Graces,  without  ar.y 
fuch  Witnefs  of  the  SPIRIT  as  the  Scripture  holds 
out  for  a  full  Evidence  ; — all  which  was  well,  and 
futed  with  the  public  Miniflry  :  But  when  floe  had 
thus  prepared  the  Way  by  fuch  wholfome  Truths,  then 
fbe  began  to  fet  forth  her  own  Stuff,  and  taught,  that 
no  Sanftification  was  any  Evidence  of  a  good  E- 
ilate,  except  their  Jollification  were  firft  cleared  up 
te  them  by  the  immediate  Witnefs  of  the  SPIRIT  ; 
and  that  to  fee  any  Work  of  Grace  (either  Faith  or 

Repentance, 


The    PREFACE. 

Repentance,  &c.  )  before   this  immediate  Witnefs 
was  a  Covenant  of  Works  :     ^hereupon  many  good 
Souls,  that  had  been  of  long-approv '  d  Bjblinefs,  were 
brought  to   renounce   all   the   Work  of  Grace  in 
them,  and  to  wait  for  this  immediate  Revelation. 
Then  fprung  up  alfo  the  Opinion  of  the  indwelling  of 
the  Perfon  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,   and  of   Union 
with  CHRIST,  and  Juftification  before   Faith,  and 
a  denying  of  any  Gifts  or   Graces,  or  inherent 
Qualifications  ;     and  that  CHRIST  was  all,  and  did 
all,  and  that  the  Soul  remained  always  as  a  dead 
Organ,  and  other  grofs  Errors.  —It  was  indeed  a 
Wonder,  -upon  what  a  fudden  the   whole   Church  of 
BOSTON  (  feme  few  except ed}  were  become  her  new 
Converts  and  infected  with  her  Opinions  :     And  ma 
ny  alfo  out  of  the  Church,  and  of  other  Churches,  yea, 
many  profane  Perfons  became  of  her  Opinion  ;    f^r 
it  was  a  very  eafy  and  acceptable  Way  to  Heaven, 
to  fee  nothing,  to  have  nothing,  but  to  wait  for  CHRIST 
to  do  all.     After  floe  had  thus  prevail' d,  and  drawn 
feme  of  eminent  Place  and  Parts  to  her  Party,  fhe 
kept  open  Houfe  for  all  Comers,  and  fet  up  two  Lec 
ture-Days  in  the  Week,  when  there  ufually  met  at 
her  Houfe  threefcore  or  four] core  Perfons.     The  Pre 
tence  was  to  repeat  Servians  ;     but  when  that  was 
done,  floe  would  comment  upon  the  Doftrines,  and  in 
terpret  all  PaJJages  at  her  Pleafure,  and  expound  dark 
Places  of  Scripture,,  fo  as  whatfoever  the  Letter  held 
forth  (for  this  was  one  of  her  Tenets,  that  the  whole 
Scripture  in  ^the  Letter  of  it  held  forth  nothing 
but  a  Covenant  of  Works  )  fhe   would  be  fure  to 
make  it  ferve  her  Turn,  for  the  confirming  her  main 
Principles,  whereof  this  was  another,  that  the  darker 
our  Sandlification  is,  the  clearer  is  our  Juftificati- 
on.     And  indeed  mojl  of  her  Tenets  tended  to  Sloth* 
fulnefs,  and  quench    all  Endeavours  in  the    Creature. 
And  fiow  there  was  no  Speech  fo  much  in  Ufe  as  of 

vilifying 


xiv  The    PREFACE. 

vilifying  San  6lification,  and  all  for  advancing  CHRIST 
and  free  Grace.— -All  indeed  that  oppofed  this  Wo 
man  (  being  near  all  the  Elders,  and  mofl  of  the 
faithful  Chrijlians  in  the  Country^)  floe  fpoke  of  as  un 
der  a  Covenant  of  Works,  that  fhe  might  with  the 
more  Credit  difclofe  and  advance  her  M after -piece  of 
immediate  Revelations,  under  the  fair  Pretence  of 
the  Covenant  of  free  Grace :  Wherein  fbe  had  not 
failed  of  her  Aim,  to  the  utter  Subverfwn  both  of  the 
Churches,  and  the  civil  State,  if  the  moft  wife  and 
merciful  Providence  of  the  LORD  had  not  -prevented 
it,  by  keeping  fo  many  of  the  Magiflrates  and  Elders 
free  from  the  Infection. 

Thefe  were  the  cunning  Sleights  ufed  for.  the  Dread 
ing  of  Error,  not  only  in  the  Church  of  BOSTON,  where 
mojl  of  thefe  Seducers  lived,  but  alfo  in  almoft  all 
Parts  of  the  Country.  Befides  which,  the  Sectaries 
( to  ufe  the  Words  of  Mr.  JOHNSON  f )  cc  had  other 
"  pretty  Knacks  to  delude  with  all  ;  fuch  as  the  tell- 
"  ing  of  rare  Revelations  of  Things  to  come  from 
"  the  SPIRIT,  and  the  weakening  the  Word  of  the 
"  LORD  in  the  Mouth  of  his  Minifters,  by  putting 
"  ignorant  and  unlettered  Men  and  Women  in  a 
"  Pofture  of  preaching  to  a  Multitude,  that  they  might 
"  be  praifed  for  their  able  Tongue,  Come  along  with 
"  me,  fays  one  of  them,  III  bring  you  to  a  Woman 
"  that  preaches  better  Gofpel  than  any  of  your  black- 
"  Coats  that  have  been  at  the  Univerjity  ;  a  WQ- 
"  man  of  another  Kind  of  Spirit  9  'who  hath  had  ma- 
"  ny  Revelations  of  Things  to  ^ome  :  And  for  my 
"  Party  faith  he,  I  had  rather  hear  fuch  a  one  that 
"  /peaks  from  the  meer  Motion  of  the  SPIRIT, 


f   V  id,  His  Winder -working  Prcvidence  of  SIGN'S  SA 
VIOUR,  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  P.  95,  96. 

without 


The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E.  xv 

v  without  any  Study  at  all,  than  any  of  your  learn- 
"  ed  Scholars,  although  they  may  be  fuller  of  Scrip- 
"  ture  ;  ay,  and  admit  they  may  fpeak  by  the  Help 
«•  of  the  SPIRIT,  yet  the  other  goes  beyond  them.— 
«•  By  which,  and  divers  other  fuch  like  Matters,  which 
"  might  be  here  Inferted,^  you  may  fee  how  thefe  Seft- 
"  arles,  love  the  Pre-eminence,  and  for  this  find  feek 
"  to  deprive  the  Minifters  of  CHRIST,  Inveigling  as 
"  many  as  'they  can  In  the  Head,  that  they  take  too 
"  much  upon  them,  fc  offing  at  their  Scholar -like  Way 
"  of  Preaching,  wherein  the  grofs  Dljjimulatlon  of 
"  thefe  erroneous  Perfons  hath  appeared  exceedingly." 

The  Opinions  being  thus  fpread  In  'the  Country, 
"  and  grown  to  their  full  Rlpenefs  and  Latitude, 
"  through  the  Nimblenefs  and  Activity  of  their  Fo- 
"  menters,  began  now  to  lift  up  their  Heads  full  high, 
"  to  Jlare  us  in  the  Face,  and  confront  all  that  op- 
<c  pofed  them.  t  And  what  added  Flgour  and  Boldnefs 
"  to  them  was,  that,  by  this  Time,  they  had  fome  of 
u  all  Sorts  and  Quality,  In  all  Places,  to  defend  anil 
"  patronife  them  ',  fome  of  the  Magiftrates,  fome 
"  Gentlemen,  fome  Scholars,  and  Men  of  Learn- 
"  ing,  fome  BurgeiTes  of  the  General  Court,  fome 
"  of  our  Captains  and  Souldiers,  fome  chief  Men 
<c  in  Towns,  and  fome  Men  eminent  for  Religion, 
<c  Parts  and  Wit.  So  that,  wherefoever  the  Cafe 
ft  of  the  Opinions  came  in  Agitation,  there  wanted 
cc  not  Patrons  to  fland  up  to  plead  for  them  ;  and 
"  if  any  of  the  Opinionifts  were  complained  of  in 
<f  the  Courts  for  their  Mif demeanours,  or  brought 
"  before  the  Church  for  Conviction  or  Cenfure,  ftill 
*c  fome  or  other  of  that  Party  would  not  only  fufpend 
«  giving  their  Vote  agalnfl  them,  but  would  labour  to 
"  jufltfy  them,  fide  with  them,  and  protefl  agalnfl  a- 
"  ny  Sentence  that  fhould  pafs  upon  them  ;  and  fo 
"  be  ready  not  only  to  harden  the  Delinquent  agalnfl 

all 


Stvi  The    PREFACE. 

"  all  Means  of  Convittion,  but  to  raife  a  Mutiny  if 
ff  the  Major-Part  fhould  carry  it  againft  them  :  So, 
"  in  Town-Meetings,  Military-Trainings,  and  -til 
"  other  Societies,  yea,  almoft  in  every  Family,  it 
"  was  hard,  if  fome  or  other  were  not  ready  to  rife 
"  up  in  Defence  of  them,  even  as  of  the  Apple  of  their 
"  own 


"  Now,  0  their  Boldmjs,  Pride,  Alienations  from 
their  old  and  dear  eft  Friends,  the  Dijlurbancss,  Di- 
vijions,  Contentions,  they  raifed  among  us9  both  in 
Church  and  State,  and  in  Families,  fetting  Dim- 
fions  betwixt  Husband  and 


cf  Oh  the  fore  Cenfures  againft  all  Sorts  that  op- 
<c  pofed  them,  and  the  Contempt  they  caft  upon  our 
"  godly  Magistrates,  Churches,  Minifters,  and  all 
*4  that  were  fet  over  them,  when  they  ftood  in  their 
44  Way  \ 

"  Now  the  faithful  Minifters  of  CHRIST  nmft 
"  have  Dung  caft  on  their  Faces,  and  be  no  better 

than 


Obfervable  are  the  Words  of  Mr.  JOHNSON,  con 
cerning  the  religious  State  of  Things  at  this  Time. 
Says  he,  "  There  was  among  all  Sorts  of  Perfons  a 
"  great  Talk  of  NEW-LIGHT  ;  but  verily  it  prov- 

'  ed  old  Darknefs,  fuch  as  fometime  over&adoweJ 

"  the  City  of  MUNSTER. The  bettter  Part  of 

"  the  People  flood  ftill  many  of  them,  gazing  one 

£  upon  another,  like  Sheep  let  loofe  to  feed  on  frefii 
*s  Pafture,  being  flopped  and  ftartled  in  their  Courfe 

c  by  a  Kennall  of  devouring;  Wolves.  The  weaker 
"  Sort  wavered  much,  and  fuch  as  were  jnore  grown 
"  Chriftians  hardly  durft  difcover  the  Truth  the/ 
"  held,  one  to  another,  The  Fogs  of  Error  in« 

creafm^, 


The    PREFACE.  xvii 

*<  than  LEGAL  PREACHERS,  BAAL'S  PRIESTS,  POPISH 
"  FACTORS,  SCRIBES,  PHARISEES,  and  OPPOSERS  OF 
cc  CHRIST  HIMSELF. 

"  Now  they  muft  be  pointed  at,  as  It  were,  with 
"  the  Finger,  and  reproached  by  Name.  Such  a 
"  Church-Officer  is  an  ignorant  Man,  and  knows 
"  not  CHRIST  ;  fuch  an  one  is  under  a  Covenant 
"  of  Works  ;  fuch  a  Paflor  is  a  proud  Man, 
"  and  would  make  a  good  Perfecutor  ;  fuch  a  Teach- 
"  er  is  grofly  popiih  :  So  that,  thro'  thefe  Re- 
"  proacbes,  Occafion  was  given  to  Men  to  abhor  the 
"  Offerings  of  the  LORD. 

"  Now  one  of  them,  in  a  folemn  Convention  of  Ml- 
*c  nifters,  dared  to  fay  to  their  Faces,  that  they 
"  did  not  preach  the  Covenant  of  free  Grace, 
"  and  that  they  themfehes  had  not  the  Seal  of 
"  the  SPIRIT,  l&c. 

"  Now,  after  our  Sermons  were  ended,  at  our  pub- 
"  lie  Lectures,  you  might  have  fan  ha-f  a  -Dozen 


"  creafing,  the  bright  Beams  of  the  glorious  Gofpel 
"  of  our  LORD  CHRIST,  in  the  Mouth  of  his  Mi- 

'  nifters,  could  not  be  difcerned,  through  this  thick 
"  Mifl,  by  many  ;  and  that  fweet  refreihing 
*'  Warmth,  that  was  formerly  felt  from  the  SPI- 
<c  RIT*S  Influence,  was  now  turn'd  (in  thefe  Error- 

{  ifls]  to  a  hot  Inflammation  of  their  own  conceited 
"  Revelations ,  ulcerating  and  bringing  little  elfe  than 
cc  Phrtnfy  or  Madntft  to  the  Patient.  The  Con- 

'  gregation  of  the  People  of  GOD  began  to  be  for- 

*  faken  ;  and  the  weaker  Sex  prevailed  fo  far,    that 
'  they    fet  up  a  Priefl  of  their  own   ProfeJJton  and 

*  Sex,  who  was  much    throng'd  after,    abominably 
"  wreftingthe  Scriptures  to  their  own  Deftru&ion." 


The    PREFACE. 

"  Pijlols  difchargd  at  the  Face  of  the  Preachtr, 
"  fo  many  Objections  (  /  mean )  made  by  the  Opini- 
"  onifts,  in  the  open  Affembly,  againft  our  Doftrine 
«  delivered,  if  it  futed  not  their  new  Fancies,  to 
"  the  marvellous  weakening  of  holy  Truths  delivered, 
tf  in  the  Hearts  of  all  the  weaker  Sort  ;  and  this 
fi  done,  not  ence  and  away,  but  from  Day  to  Day  af- 
"  ter  our  Sermons  ;  yea,  they  would  come,  when 
<c  they  heard  a  Minifter  was  upon  fuch  a  Point  as 
cc  was  like  tojlrike  their  Opinions,  with  a  Purpofe 
ct  to  oppofe  him  to  bis  Face. 

"  Now  you  might  have  feen  many  of  the  Opini- 
<c  onifts  rifing  up,  and  contemptuoufly  turning 
"  their  Backs  upon  the  faithful  Paftor  of  that 
"  Church,  and  GOING  FORTH  FROM  THE  ASSEMBLY, 
"  when  he  began  to  pray  or  preach. 

( '  Now,  you  might  have  heard  one  of  them  preach- 
u  ing  a  mojl  dangerous  Sermon,  in  a  great  Affeinbly, 
"  when  he  divided  the  whole  Country  into  two  Ranks, 
"  fome  (that  were  of  his  Opinion^  under  a  Covenant 
<f  of  Grace,  and  thofe  were  Friends  to  CHRIST  ; 
<c  others,  under  a  Covenant  of  Works,  whom  they 
*'  might  know  by  this,  if  they  evidence  their 
"  good  Eftate  by  their  Sanftification  :  Thofe 
"  ( faid  he  )  were  ENEMIES  TO  CHRIST,  HE- 
<c  RODS,  PILATES,  SCRIEES  and  PHARISEES  ;  yea, 
u  ANTICHRISTS  :  And  advis'd  all  under  a  Covenant 
"  of  Grace  to  look  upon  them  as  fuch,  and  did  with 
ft  great  Zeal  fiimulate  tbem  to  deal  with  them  as 
( c  they  would  with  fuch  ;  and  whhall  alledging  the 
"  Story  of  MOSES  that  killed  the  EGYPTIAN,  barely 
"  left  it  fo.  I  mention  not  this,  or  any  Thing  in 
"  the  leaji  Degree,  to  reflect  upon  this  Man,  or  any 
Ci  other  ;  for  GOD  hath  long  Jince  opened  his  Eyes 
fi  (/  hope}  :  But  to  jloe-w  what  Racket  thefe  Opi 
nions 


The  PREFACE: 

"  nions  did  then  make,  and  mil  whenever  they  get 
«  Head. 

(C  Now,  you  might  have  feen  open  Contempt  cajl 
"  upon  the.  Face  of  the  whole  General  Court  in  fubtle 
«  Words  to  this  very  Effeft  ;  that  the  Magiftrates 
"  were  AHABS,  AMAZIAHS,  SCRIBES  and  PHARISEES, 
"  ENEMIES  TO  CHRIST,  led  by  Satan  that  old  Enemy 
"  of  free  Grace  ;  and  that  it  were  better  that  a 
«  Milftone  were  hung  about  their  Necks,  and  they 
"  were  drowned  in  the  Sea,  than  they  fhould  cenfure 
"  one  of  their  Judgment,  which  they  were  now  about 
"  to  do. 

"Another  of  them  you  might  have  feen  fo  audadoufly 
<4  infolent,  and  high-flown  in  Spirit  and  Speech,  that 
/he  bad  the  Court  of  Magiftrates  (when  they  wers 
about  to  cenfure  her  for  her  pernicious  Carriages  ) 
take  Heed,  what  they  did  to  her  ;    for  floe  knew} 
by  infallible  Revelation,  that,  for  this  Aft  which 
They  were  about  to  pafs  againfl  her,  GOD  would 
ruin  them,  their  whole  Pofterity,  and  the  Com- 
mon- Wealth.* 

"  By  a  little  Tafte  of  a  few  PaJJages,  in/lead  of 
Multitudes,  here  prefented,  you  may  fee,  what  a 
b  2  Height 


This  refers  to  a  Gentlewoman,  who,  when  before  the 
Court  to  anfwer  for  her  Mal-Condu6t,  among  other 
Things,  faid  to  them,  "I  will  give  you  one  Place  more, 
"  which  the  LORD  bro'tto  me  by  immediate  Revela- 
4<  tion,  and  that  doth  concern  you  all.  It  is  in  Dan.  6. 
"  When  the  Prejtdents  and  Princes  could  find  nothing  a - 
6t  gain  ft  him,  becaufe  be  was  faithful  they  fought  Matter 
"  again/I  him  concerning  the  Law  of  his  GOD,  to  call 
"  him  into  the  Lyons  Den :  So  it  was  revealed  to  me, 

/      "  that 


xx  The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

"  Height  they  were  grown  to,  in  a  fliort  Time  ;  and- 
"  what  a  Spirit  of  Pride,  Infolency,  Contempt  of  Au- 
"..thority,  Divifion,  Sedition,  they  were  afted  by.  It 
"  was  a  Wonder  of  Mercy ,  that  they  had  not  fet  our 
"  Common-Wealth  and  Churches  on  Fire,  and  con- 
"  fumed  us  all  therein. 

They  being  mounted  to  this  Heighth,  and  carried 
ih  fuch  a  Jtrong  Hand  (  as  you  have  heard),  and 
feeing  a  Spirit  of  Error,  Subtilty,  Malice,  and  Con 
tempt  of  all  Men  that  were  not  of  their  Minds, 


"  that  they  {hould  plot  againft  me  ;  but  the  LORD 
'  bid  me  not  to  fear,  for  he  that  delivered  DANIEL 
tc  and  the  three  Children,  his  Hand  is  not  (hortned. 
c  And  fee  this  Scripture  this  Day  fulfilled  in  min« 
:c  Eyes  :  therefore  take  heed  what  ye  go  about  to  do 
"  unto  me,  for  ye  have  no  Power  over  my  Body,  nei- 
*c  ther  can  yc  do  me  any  Harm  :  for  I  am  in  the 
<c  Hands  of  the  ETERNAL  JEHOVAH  MY  SAVIOUR. 
"  No  further  do  I  eftecm  of  any  mortal  Man  than 
:c  Creatures  in  his  Hand  :  I  fear  none  but  the  GREAT 
tc  JEHOVAH,  who  hath/0r*/0W  me  of  thefe  Things, 
<c  and  I  do  verily  believe  that  he  will  deliver  me  out 
ct  of  your  Hands :  Therefore  take  heed  how  you  pro- 
"  ceed  againft  me,  for  I  know  that  for  this  you  go  a- 
lc  bout  to  do  to  me,  GOD  will  ruin  you,  and  your 
"  Po/lerity^  and  this  whole  State.  When  (he  had  thus 
<c  vented  her  Mind,  the  Court  demanded  of  her,  how 
<c  (he  expefted  to  be  delivered,  whether  by  Miracle 
"  as  DANIEL  was  ?  To  which  fhe  anfwered,  Yes; 
"  by  Miracle  as  DANIEL  was.  Being  further  de- 
<l  manded,  how  (he  knew  that  it  was  GOD  that  did 
ct  raw*/ thefe  Things  to  her,  and  not  Satan  ?  She 
"  anfwered,  How  did  ABRAHAM  know  that  it  was 
ie  ihtFoice  cfGOD^when  he  commanded  him  tofacri- 
<c  fee  his  SotJ"  The  Court  foon  made  it  appear,  that 
her  Revelations  were  Dtlufions.  Vid.  The  Story  of 
ANTINOMIANISM  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  P.  40. 

"  breathing 


The    PREFACE.  xxi 

"  breathing  in  them,  our  Hearts  fadded,  and  our  Spi- 
tf  rits  tired,  we  feghed  and  groaned  to  Heaven,  we 
"  humbled  our  Souls  by  Prayer  and  Fafting  that  the 
"  LORD  would  find  out,  and  blefs  fome  Means  ani 
"  Ways  for  the  Cure  of  this  Sore,  and  deliver  his 
"  Truth  and  our  felves  from  this  heavy  Bondage  : 
"  Which,  when  his  own  Time  was  come,  he  hearkened 
"  unto,  and  in  infinite  Mercy  looked  upon  our  Sorrows, 
"  and  did,  in  a  wonderful  Manner,  beyond  all  Ex- 
"  peftation,  free  us  by  tkefe  Means  following. 

"  i.  He  jlirred  up  all  ffo  Minifter's  Spirits,  in  the 
Country,  to  preach  againft  thofe  Errors, 


tices,  that  fo  much  peftered  the  Country,  to  inform, 
"  to  confute,  to  rebuke,  &fc.  thereby  to  cure  thofe  that 
c<  were  difeafed  already,  and  to  give  Antidotes  to  the 
"  refty  t°  preferve  them  from  Infection  :  And  tho> 
<c  this  Ordinance  went  not  without  its  appointed  Ef- 
"  feel,  in  the  latter  Refpeft  ;  yet,  we  found  it  not 
"  f°  effectual  for  the  driving  away  of  this  Infection 
ic  as  we  defired,  for  they  (  moft  of  them  )  hardened 
"  their  Faces,  and  bent  their  Wits  to  Qppofe,  and  con- 
"  firm  themf  elves  in  their  Way. 

"  2.  We  fpent  much  Time  and  Strength  in  Cort- 
(f  ference  with  them,  fometimes  in  private  before  the 
"  Elders  only,  fometimes  in  our  public  Congregati- 
u  ons  for  all  Comers  ;  many,  very  many  Hours, 
"  and  half  Days  together  we  fpent  therein,  to  fee  if 
"  any  Means  might  prevail  We  gave  them  free 
"  Leave,  with  all  Lenity  and  Patience,  to  lay  down 
"  what  they  could  fay  for  their  Opinions,  and  an- 
"  fwered  them  from  Point  to  Point,  and  then  brought 
"  clear  Arguments  from  evident  Scriptures  againft 
"  them,  and  put  them  to  anfeuer  Things,  even  until 
"  they  were  oftentimes  brought  to  be  cither  filent,  or 

driven 


xxiz  The    PREFACE. 

"  driven  to  deny  common  Principles,  or  fiuffle  off 
"  plain  Scripture  ;  and  yet,  (fitch  was  their  Pride 
"  and  Hardnefs  of  Heart,  that )  they  would  not  yield 
"  to  the  Truth,  but  did  tell  us  they  would  take  Time 
"to  confuler  of  our  Arguments  :  And,  in  the  mean 
"  Time,  meeting  with  their  Abetters,  ftrengthened 
tf  themfehes  again  in  their  old  Way,  that  when  we 
"  dealt  with  them  next  Time,  we  found  them  further 
"  off  than  before,  Jo  that  our  Hopes  began  to  Ian- 
of  reducing  them  by  private  Means. 


<( 


"  3.  Then  we  had  an  AfTembly  of  all  the  Mini- 
fters  and  learned  Men  in  the  whole  Country,  which 
held  for  three  Weeks  together  at  CAMBRIDGE,  Mr. 
HOOKER  and  Mr,.  BUCKLEY,  being  chofcn  Mode- 
rators,  or  Prolocutors,  the  Magiflrates  fating 
prefent  all  that  Time,  as  Hearers,  and  Speakers  alfo 
when  they  faw  fit.  A  Liberty  alfo  was  given  to  any  of 
the  Country  to  come  in  and  hear,  (it  being  appointed,  in 
great  Part,  for  the  Satisfaction  of  the  People}  and 
a  Place  was  appointed  for  all  the  Opinionifts  to 
come  in,  and  take  Liberty  of  Speech  (  only  due 
Order  obferved  )  as  much  as  any  of  our  f  elves  had, 
and  as  freely.  The  firft  Week  we  fpent  in  con- 
futing  the  loofe  Opinions  that  we  gathered  up  in 
the  Country.  —  The  other  Fortnight  we  fpent  in  a 
plain  fy/logijlical  Difpute  (ad  Vulgus  as  much  as 
might  bi)9  gathered  up  nine  of  the  chief  eft  Points 
(on  which  the  reft  depended}  and  difputed  of  them 
all  in  Order,  pro  and  con.—  -GOD  was  much  pre- 
Jent  with  his  Servants,  Truth  began  to  get  Ground, 
and  the  adverfe  Party  to  be  at  a  Stand  ;  but  af- 
ter  Difcourfe  among  themfehes,  ftill  they  hardened 
cne  another  :  Tet,  the  Work  of  the  ^flembly  (thro9 
GOD's  BkJJing)  gained  much  on  the  Hearers  that 
were  indifferent,  to  ftrcngthen  them  ;  and  on  many 
wavering,  to  fettle  them.  The  Error  of  the  Opi- 

"  nions, 


The    PREFACE,  xxiii 

"  nions,  and  Wilfulnefs  of  their  Maintainers  laid 
"  Jlark  naked* 

"  The  lafl  Stroke  that  Jlcw  the  Opinions,  was  the 
"  falling  away  of  their  Leaders,  (i.)  Into  more 
"  hideous,  and  Soul-deftroywg  Delufions,  which  ruin, 
"  indeed,  all  Religion ;  as,  that  the  Souls  of  Men  are 
"  mortal  like  the  Beafts  ;  that  there  is  nofuch  Thing 
"  as  inherent  Righteoufnefs ;  that  thefe  Bodies  of 
"  ours  (hall  not'rife  again  ;  that  their  own  Revelati- 
"  ons  of  particular  Events  were  as  infallible  as  the 
"  Scripture,  &c.  (2.)  They  grew  alfo  (many  of 
"  them  )  very  loofe,  and  degenerate  in  their  Prac- 
"  tices  (  for  thefe  Opinions  will  certainly  produce  a 
"  filthy  Life  by  Degrees )  ;  as  no  Prayer  in  their 
"  Families,  no  Sabbath,  infufferable  Pride,  fre- 
"  quent  and  hideous  Lying  ;  diverfe  of  them  being 
<f  proved  guilty,  fome  of  five,  others  of  ten  grojs 
"  Lies:  Another  falling  into  a  Lie,  GOD  fnwte  him 
"  in  the  very  Aft,  that  lie  funk  down  into  a  deep 
"  Swound,  and  being  by  hot  Waters  recovered,  and 
cc  coming  to  hinifelf^faid.  Oh  GOD,  thou  might  eft 
"  haveftmck  me  dead,  as  ANANIAS  and  SAPPHIRA, 

"  for  I  have  maintained  a  Lie.     Mrs. and  others- 

(f  cafl  out  of  the  Church  for  Lying;  and  fome  guilty 
"  of  FOULER  SINS  than  all  thefe,  which  I  here  name 
"  not. 

"  Thefe  Things  exceedingly  amazed  their  Follower^ 
"  ( efp'&ially  fuch  as  were  led  after  them  in  the  Sim- 


The  next  Thing  mentioned  as  a  Means  then  ufed 
for  the  SuppreiTion  of  Diforders,  was  the  Irxterpofition 
of  the  civil  Magiftrate  ;  but  this  I  have  intireiy  paiF- 
ed  over,  becaufe  a  juft  Idea  of  it  can't  be  conveyed 
to  the  World,  without  'a  greater  Number  of.  Pages 
than  I  can  fpare  for  the  whole  Preface. 


xxiv  The    PREFACE. 


"  plicity  of  their  Hearts,  as  many  i^ere}  and  now  they 
"  began  to  fee  that  they  were  deluded  by  them.—  Now 
"  no  Man  could  lay  more  upon  them  than  they  would 
"  upon  themfelves,  in  their  Acknowledgements.  Many, 
"  after  this,  came  to  fa,  who  before  fled  from  us, 
"  with  fitch  Defires  as  thofe,  Afts  2.  Men  and  Bre- 
Ct  thr  en,  What  lhall  we  do  ?  And  did  willingly  take 
"  Shame  to  themfelves,  in  the  open  AJJemblies,  by  con- 
"  fe(Tmg  (fome  of  them  with  many  Tears")  how  they  had 
"  given  Offence  to  the  LORD,  and  his  People,  by  de- 
"  parting  from  the  Truth  y  and  being  led  by  a  Spirit  of 
"  Err  or  ,  their  Alienation  from  their  Brethren  in  their 
"  Affe&ionS)  and  their  crooked  and  perverfe  walking  in 
"  Contempt  of  Authority,  flighting  the  Churches,  and 
(t  def  pifing  the  Counfel  of  their  godly  Teachers. 

"  Now  they  would  freely  dif  cover  the  Sleights  the 
"  Adverfaries  had  ufed  to  undermine  them  by,  andfteal 
u  away  their  Eyes  from  the  Truth,  and  their  Brethren, 
(c  which  before  (  whilft  their  Eyes  were  featd  )  they 
"  could  not  fee.  And  the  Fruit  of  this  was  great 
"  Praife  to  the  LORD,  who  had  thus  wonderfully 
(C  hro't  the  Matter  about  ;  Gfolnefs  in  all  our  Hearts 
"  and  Faces,  and  ExpreJJions  of  our  renewed  Affefti- 
*'  on  by  receiving  them  again  into  our  JBofom  :  And 
"  from  that  Time  until  now  they  have  walk'  d(  ace  or  d- 
"  ing  to  their  renewed  Covenants')  humbly  and  loving- 
"  ly  among  its,  holding  forth  Truth  and  Peace  with 
"  Power. 

(i  But  from  the  reft,  who  (notwithjlanding  allthefe 
c<  Means  of  Conviftion)  yet  flood  obdurate,  yea,  more 
<4  hardned  (as  we  had  Rcafon  to  fear}  than  before, 
"  we  converted  thoje  of  them  that\  were  Members 
"  before  the  Churches,  and  yet  laboured  once  and  again 
"  to  convince  them,  not  only  of  their  Errors,  but  alfo 
"  of  jundry  exorbitant  Pra6lices  wbicb  they  had 

"  fallen 


The    PREFACE. 


XXV 


ft  fallen  into,  as  manifeft  Pride,  Contempt  of  Autho- 
"  rity,  neglecting  to  hear  the  Church,  and  lying  &c  : 
cc  But  after  no  Means  prevailed,  we  were  driven  with 
"  fad  Hearts  to  give  them  up  to  Satan  ;  yet  not 
"  fimply  for  their  Opinions  ( for  which  I  find  we 
tc  have  been  Jlanderoufly  traduced},  but  the  chief  eft 
<c  Caufe  of  their  Cenfure,  was  their  Mifcarriages 
"  perfefted  in  with  great  Obftinacy. 

"  Thus  the  LORD  heard  our  Groans  to  Heaven, 
"  and  freed  us  from  this  great  and  fore  Affliction, 
€i  which  firft  was  fmall,  like  ELIAS'S  Cloud,  but  after 
"  fpread  the  Heavens  ;  and  hath  given  the  Churches 
<c  refi  from  this  Difturbance  ever  fine e,  that  we  know 
"  none  that  lifts  up  his  Head  to  diftiub  our  fweet 
"  Peace,  in  any  of  the  Churches  of  CHRIST  among 
"  us  :  BleJJed  be  his  Name" 

This,  in  brief  f,  is  a  juft  Account  of  the  religious 
Commotion  in  the  Country ',  foon  after  its  firft  Settle* 
ment  by  our  Fathers  ;  which  I  could  not  omit  prefent- 
ing  the  Reader  with,  hoping  it  might  be  of  Service 
at  fuch  a  Day  as  this.— Few,  I  believe,  will  venture 


•f-  I  fay  in  brief,  becaufe  fome  Things  I  have  only 
hinted  at,  wJiile  I  have  intirely  fuppreiTed  others, which 
might  have  been  gratifying  to  the  Curious.  The 
Difputes  (preferved  at  large  in  Writing)  between  the 
Synod  and  MeilieursCoTTON  and  WHEELWRIGHT, 
upon  fome  of  the  grand  Points  in  Agitation  at  that 
Day,  would, perhaps,  fet  fome  of  our  prefent  Coritro- 
verfies  in  a  juft  Li^ht.  But  the  inferting  thefe  would 
have  taken  up  too  much  Room.  I  fhould  be  glad  if  a 
compleat  Fliftory  of  thefe  Times  might  be  wrote.  I 
know  there  are  authentick  Materials  fufficient  for  fuch 
a  Purpofe  ;  and  it  might  be  of  Advantage  to  the  pre 
fent,  as  well  as  Times  to  come. 

to 


xxvi  The    P  R  E  F  A  C^E. 

to  difown  a  Likenefs  between  the  Difturbances  then 
and  now:  They  are  indeed  fuprijingly  fimilar  ;  info- 
much,  that,  if  I  had  not  fpoken  in  Language,  Part 
of  which  was  in  Print,  fifty  ;  and  Party  eighty  Tears 
ago,  feme,  I  doubt  not,  would  have  imagined,  I  had 
purpofely  gone  into  the  Ufe  of  certain  Words  and 
Phrafes,  to  make  former  Times  look  like  the  prefent; 
and  not  only  fo,  hut  that  I -had  artfully  given  Things  a 
Turn,  fo'  as  to  lead  People,  while  they  were  reading 
of  ancient  Days,  to  think  of  thofe  that  are  but  juft 

paft. The  Boldnefs  and  Infolency  of  fome  of  the 

Zealots  of  this  Day  ;  their  Alienations  from  their 
old  Friends  ;  the  Difturbances,  Contentions,  Separa 
tions,  and  Schifms,  they  have  raifed  in  the  Country,  in 
Families,  in  Churches,  in  Towns  ;  the  Reproaches 
they  have  caft  upon  all  who  dont  think  as  they  do, 
particularly  upon  the  Body  of  the  {landing  Minifters  : 
Thefe,  with  other  Things  I  need  not  mention,  are  as 
fignificantly  fpoken  of,  in  the  Words  pointing  out  the 
fad  State  of  Religion  in  old-time,  as  any  could  now 
adapt  Language,  were  they  inclind  to  defcribe  what 
has  happened,  of  late,  in  various  Parts  of  our  Land. 
And  if  People  a  few  Tears  fmce,  bad  generally  known 
what  had  befallen  the  Country,  in  its  Beginnings,  it 
would  have  been,  I  can't  but  think,  a  great  Prefer- 
•ualive  againft  the  Errors  and  Diforders  they  have 
unhappily  run  into  :  Nor  is  it  too  late  now  to  fitrnift 
them  with  fomc  general  Hijlory  of  this. — It  may  ftill 
le  of  Advantage,  not  only  to  guard  thofe  who  are  not 
as  yet  infected,  but  to  check  the  Growth  of  our  Dif- 
fici&ies ;  especially,  if  due  Attendance  is  given  to  the 
Means  and  Methods  ufed  by  our  Fathers,  when  the 
Churches,  in  their  Day,  were  In  Danger.  —  Their  be 
ing  fpoken  of  under  all  the  Names  of  Ignominy 
and  Contempt  did  not  affright  en  them  from  Duty  ; 
no,  but  they  appeared,  notwithftanding,  bold  in.  the  Caitfe 
of  Truth  and  good  Order,  againjl  all  Opposition  : 

And 


The    PREFACE.  xxvii 

And  having  herein  fet  us  a  noble  Example,  we  foall 
do  ^ell  to  follow  their  Steps. 


It  may  not  be  amifs  to  obferve  here,  as  the  Church 
of  which  I  am  a  Paltor,  was  the  only  one  in  BOSTON, 
in  the    Times  I  have  been  fpeaking  of,  Jo  this  was 
the  Church  to  which  moft  of  the  grand  Opinionifts 
belong  d  :     And  from  hence  it  was,  that  Difturbance 
went  forth  Into  the  Country.—  Many  of  its  Mem 
bers  depended  upon   the  immediate  Witnefs  of  the 
SPIRIT  for  an  Affurance  of  their  good  Ejlaie,  fo  as 
to  renounce  San6iification  as   any  Evidence  in  the 
.Cafe  ;     which  indeed  was  the  Root  of  moft  of  the 
Errors  and  Confufions  in  that  Day.—  Their  belov 
ed  Teacher,    Mr.  COTTON,   though  a  Gentleman  of 
considerable  Parts,  and  Learning,  and  exemplary  Piety  , 
was  yet  not  altogether  free  from  Blame.  The  famous 
Mr.  NORTON  int  imates  as  much,  while  yet  he  fpcaks 
honourably  of  him.     His  Words  are  theje*  "Though 
tf  his  Forbearance  was  both  obfervable,  and  very  imi* 
"  table,  in  the  Things  which  concerned  himfelf  ;   yet 
"  he  could  not  forbear  them  whom  he  knew  to  be  E- 
(f  vil.     An   Experience  whereof  we  Jaw  cementing 
"  fome    Heterodox  Spirits,    who,   by  their  fpec'wus 
"  Dlfcourfes  of  free  Grace,   and  fubdolous  concealing 
"  ef  their  Principles,  fo  far  deceived  him  into  a  bet- 
"  ter  Opinion  of  them  than  there  was  Caufe,  as  that^ 
"  notwithjianding    they    fajimed    their     Errors  up- 
<f  on     him    in     general,  and    abufed    his  Doctrine  y 
"  to  the  countenancing  of  their  denying  of  inherent 
"  Grace  in   particular  ;     yet,  he  was  flow'  to  be- 
"  lieve  thcfe  Things  of  them,  and  flower  to  bear  Wit- 
"  nefs   again  ft  them  :     But  fo  foon   as  the   Truth 
"  herein  appeared  to  him,  hear  his  own  Words  taken 
"  out  of  his  Letter  to  Mr.  DAVENPORT  ,-"  the  Truth 

*  Vid,  His  Life  qf  Mr,  COTTON.     P,  36,  37.  , 

to 


•xxviii  The    PREFACE. 

"  is,  faith  he,  the  Body  of  the  Ifland  [BOSTON]  is 
"  bent  to  Backjliding  into  Error  and  Delufion  :  The 
"  LORD  pity  and  -pardon  them,  and  ME  alfo,  who 
"  have  been  fo  flow  to  fee  their  Windings,  and 
"  fubtle  Contrivances,  and  Infmuations,  in  all  their 
"  Tranfaftions."—  Tea,  fuch  'was  his  Ingenuity  and 
"  Piety,  as  that  his  Soul  was  not  fatisfied  without 
*'  often  breaking  forth  into  affectionate  bewailing  of 
"  his  Infirmity  herein,  in  the  public  AJJembly,  fome- 
"  times  in  Prayer,  fometimes  in  Sermon  j  and  that 
«  with  Tears.'1 

Thanks  be  to  GOD,  who  notwithjlanding  all  our 
Errors  in  Do&rine,  and  Diforders  in  Praftice,  has 
continued  us  a  Church  to  this  Day. —  May  the  glo 
rious  King  in  Sion  cleanfe  and  fanftify  us  !  protect 
and  blefs  us  !  And,  at  laft,  prefent  us  to  GOD,  e- 
ven  the  FATHER,  a  glorious  Church,  without  Spot, 
or  Wrinkle,  or  any  fuch  Thing  !  Amen. —  Let  us 
always,  my  Brethren,  hold  f aft  the  Truth,  with  Peace 
and  Holinefs  :  And,  if  there  are  thofe  among  us, 
who  are  Enemies  to  that  which  formerly  Jlained  our 
Glory,  it  may  not  be  thought  Jlrange  :  Nor  would 
it  be  to  the  Reproach  of  this  ancient  Church,  if  it 
fljould  pleafe  GOD  to  fucceed  the  following  Attempt  of 
one  of  its  Paftors,  to  put  a  Stop  to  like  Errors  and 
Diforders  with  thofe,  which  once  proceeded  from  it 
to  the  public  Hurt. 

To  conclude  now  with  a  few  PFords  concerning  the 
enfu'mg  Treatife. — Had  I  wrote  it  to  pleafe  my  felf, 
it  would  have  been  without  thofe  numerous  Quotati 
ons,  which,  I  am  fenfible,  have  not  only  taken  up  q, 
great  Deal  of  Room,  but  made  the  Book  kfs  agreable 
to  many  Readers.  My  Dejign  herein  was,  to  make 
it  evident,  that  the  Divines,  in  mojl  EJteem,  in  thefe 
Churches,  for  their  Piety  and  Soundnefs  in  the 

Faith, 


The    PREFACE. 

Faith,  have  fpoken  in  much  the  fame  Language^  upon 
the  Things  now  in  Agitation,  with  thofe  who  have 
been  called  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD,  and 
charged  with  leading  Souls  to  Hell  :  And  I  was 
in  Hopes,  what  they  faid  might  he  regarded,  if  Con 
tempt  was  poured  upon  what  I  offered  in  my  own  fiords. 
And  if  this  End  may  be  anfwered,  1  (hall  be  content, 
thd*  1  have  appeared  in  a  Form  not  fo  well  futed  to  my 
own  Inclinations. 

It  has  been  my  Endeavour  to  write,  fo  as  to  give  no 
jufl  Qccafion  of  Offence  to  any  Gentleman,  with 
whom  I  have  thought  it  needful  to  concern  my  felf.  If 
any  Exprejfions  have  Jlipt  from  me  which  favour  of  Bit - 
ternefs,  I  willingly  retract  them,  and  ask  Pardon  of 
thofe,  whoever  they  be,  who  may  be  ill-treated  by  them. 
Some  of  the  Language,  in  here  and  there  a  Paper  I 
have  made  ufe  of,  I  own,  is  harfh  ;  and  fhould  have 
been  altered,  had  it  been  in  my  Power  to  have  done  it. 
Whatever,  in  this  Kind,  may  be  delivered  in  too  hard 
Words,  I  hope  will  be  over-look' d  fofar  as  I  am  ac 
countable  for  it. 

As  for  Fa6h,  I  have  related  none  but  fuch  as  I  really 
believe  my  felf,  and,  as  I  think,  upon  fufficient  Evidence. 
Few,  perhaps,  have  taken  more  Pains  to  inform  them- 
f elves  than  I  have  done.  I  have  been  a  Circle  of  more 
than  three  hundred  Miles,  and  had,  by  this  Means,  an 
Opportunity  of  going  thro1  a  great  Number  of  Towns 
in  this,  and  the  neighbouring  Government  of  CONNEC 
TICUT,  and  of  having  perfonal  Converfation  with  mofl 
of  the  Ministers,  and  many  other  Gentlemen,  in  the 
Country,  and  of  fettling  a  Correfpondence  with  feveral  of 
them,  with  a  particular  F'iew  to  know,  as  nearly  as 
might  be,  the  Truth  of  Things,  upon  better  Evidence 
than  that  of  meer  Hear-fay.  After  all,  I  may  have 
been  guilty  of  Mijlakes ;  tho  I  am  not  confcious  of  it: 

And 


xxx  The    P  R  E  F  A  C  E. 

And  Ifhallbe  obliged  to  any  of  my  Fathers  or  Bre 
thren  in  the  Miniltry,  or  others,  if  they  mil  fit  me 
right  wherein  they  may  think'  I  have  erred,  whether 
in  Point  of  Faft,  or  Reafoning  upon  it.  My  Senti 
ments  upon  the  Times,  I  have  freely  offered,  from  the 
Beginning,  in  federal  Sermons,  which  have  been  made 
publick  ;  and  if,  inflead  of  fecretly  whifpering  to 
my  Disadvantage,  any,  by  the  Way  of  the  Prefs,  or 
private  Conference/  had  endeavoured  to  floow  me 
wherein  I  have  delivered  any  Thing  difhonorary  to 
the  Caiife  of  Religion,  I  floould  have  ejljemed  it  a 
Kindnejs. —  /  hope  I  have  all  along  aimd  at  the  pro 
moting  of  Truth  and  Holinefs :  This  is  the  Fiew  1 
profefs  to  write  with  at  prefent  ;  and  if  I  have  ad 
vanced  that  which  has  a  contrary  Tendency,  I  floould 
le  glad  to  be  convinced  of  it,  that  I  might  make  an 
open  Retra&ation. 

/  expeft  to  be  further  loaded  with  ill  Names :  And 
fo  far  as  this  may  tend  to  render  me  lefs  ufeful  to 
thofe  I  would  he  glad  to  ferve,  I  floall  be  forry  :  But 
otherwife,  'tis  with  me  a  fmall  Matter  to  be  judg 
ed  of  Man's  Judgment  :  Nor  floall  I  regard  the 
little  Squibs  that  may  be  thrown  at  me  by  thofe,  who 
think  the  Caiife  of  truth  will  be  better  ferv'd  by  rail* 
ing,  than  arguing.  I  floall  not  mi fp end  my  Time  to 
take  Notice  of  wlyit  may  be  faid.  by  fuch  ;  but  if 
any  will  be  at .  the '  Pains  to  give  what  I  have  offered 
the  public  a  fair  and  Chrijlian  Examination,  I  ftall 
think  myfelf  obliged  to  make  them  fome  futable  Ac 


knowledgment. 


CHARLES  CHAUNCY. 


A  LIST  of  the  SUBSCRIBERS. 

HisExcELLENCY  WILLIAM  SHIRLEYWq; 

Captain  General  and  Governour  in  Chief  over 
His  Majefty's  Province  of  the  Maffacbufetts- 
Bay  in  New-England.  (for  fix) 

The  Honourable  JONATHAN  LAW  Efq; 
Governour  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

The  Honourable  RICHARD  WARD  Efq; 
Governour  of  the  Colony  of  Rhode-IJland  and 
Providence  Plantations. 

The  Honourable  SPENCER  PHIPPS  Efq;  Lieutenant 
Governour  of  the  MaJJachufetts.  (for  two) 

The  Honourable  WILLIAM  DUMMER  Efq;  late  Lieu 
tenant  Governour  of  the  Maflhchufetts.(for  three) 

A 

'TFHE  Honourable  John  Alford  of  Charlejlown  Efq; 

(for  three) 

Mr.  James  Abbot  of  Rumford 
Jedi$ah  Adams  M.  A. 
Mr.  Daniel  Adams  of  Suffield 
Jofeph  Adams  of  Springfield  M.  A. 
Mr.  Pygan  Adams  of  New-London 
Mr.  Thomas  Adams  of  Eaft-Haddam 
Capt.  Daniel  Allen  of  New-Haven 
Mr.  Edward  Allen  of  Milford 
The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Allen  of.  Greenland  (for  two) 
Mr.  William  Allen  of  Newbury 
Samuel  Andrew  M.  A. 
Mr.  Thomas  Arthur  B.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Afliley  of  DeerfieU 

The 


2  SUBSCRIBERS. 

B 

The  Hon.  Thomas  Berry  of  Ipfwich  Efq; 

The  Hon.  William  Brown  of  SalemE&$  (for three) 

The  Hon.  John  Buckley  of  Colchefter  Efq;  (for  two) 

The  Hon.  Peter  Bourfe  of  Newport  Efq; 

Mr.  John  Bachelder  of  Kenfington 

Mr.  Nathan  Bachelder  of  Kingfton 

Mr.  Jofeph  Bachelder  of  Hampton 

Mr.  Jofiah  Bachelder  of  Hampton 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jacob  Bacon  of  Afhuelot 

Mr.  Samuel  Bailey  of  Newbury 

Mr.  Jofeph  Baker 

Mr.  Robert  Baker  of  Sudbury 

The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Balch  of  Bradford 

Mr.  David  Baldwin  of  Sudbury 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Ballantine  of  Weftfieli 

Mr.  Benjamin  Ballard 

Mr.  Jofiah  Ballard 

Mr.  John  Barker  of  Aft  on 

Mr.  Jofeph  Barns  of  A  ft  on 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Edward  Barnard  of  Haverhill 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Barnard  of  Marbkhead 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Barnard  of  Andover  (for  three) 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Barnard  of  Newbury 

Mr.  John  Barrell  Merchant 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Barrett  of  Hopkington 

Capt.  -Richard  Bartlet  of  Newbury 

Samuel  Barton  of  Salem  Efq;  ; 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Benjamin  Bafs  of  Hanover 

Mr.  Thomas  Baxter 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Abner  Bayley  of  Methuen 

Mr.  Enoch  Bayley  of  Newbury  M.  A. 

John  Henry  Baflide  Efq; 

Mr.  Jofhua  Bayley  of  Newbury 

Mr.  James  Beautineau  Merchant  (for  fix) 

Mr.  John   Becham 

Mrs.  Mary  Bennet 

Mr.  Divan  Berry  of  Wallmgford 

Mr.  Thomas  Berry  of  Wallingford 


SUBSCRIBERS.  3 

Nathanael  Bethune  M.  A.  Merchant     (for  three) 
Mr.  Simon  Bachelder  of  Kenfington 
Mr.  Jofeph  Bartlet 
Mr.  James  Bicknel  of  Hartford 
Mr.  Mofes  Blake  of  Kenfington 
Mr.  Hezekiah  Blake  of  Kfagfton 
Mr.  John  Blowers 
Mr.  OiFen  Boardman  of  Newbury 
William  Bowdoin  M.  A.  Merchant       (for  three) 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Shearjafhub  Bourne  of  Sdtuate 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Bowditch  of  Salem  Merchant 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Benjamin  Bowers  of  Middkton 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Nicholas  Bowes  of  Bedford 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Bowman  ofDorcheftef  (for  2) 
Mr.  Nicholas  Boylfton  Merchant 
Mr.  Theophilus  Bradbury  of  Newbury 
William  Bradbury  of  Salisbury  Efq; 
Mr.  Gamaliel  Bradford  of  Duxbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Simon  Bradftreet  of  Marbkhead 
Mr.  Noadiah  Brainard  of  Eaft-Haddam 
William  Brattle  of  Cambridge  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Robert  Breck  of  Springfield 
Mr.  John  Brewfter  of  Duxbury 
Mr.  William  Brock  Merchant 
The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Bridgham  of  Brimfield 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Bridge  of  Chelmsford 
Mr.  Samuel  Bridgham  (for  two) 

Mr.  Samuel  Briscoe  of  Milford 
Mr.  Abijah  Browne 
Benjamin  Browne  of  Salem  Efq; 
Mr.  Ephraim  Browne  of  Concord 
Mr.  James  Browne  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Jonathan  Browne  of  Kenfington 
Mr.  Jofiah  Browne  of  Sudbury 
Robert  Brown  of  Plymouth  Efq;  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Bryan  of  Milford 
Jofeph  Bryan  of  Milford  M.  A. 
Jofeph  Buckingham  M.  A. 

c  Capt. 


4  SUBSCRIBERS. 

Capt.  Edward  Buckley  of  Weatbersfield 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nathan  Bucknam  of  Medway 

Mr.  Abraham  Burbank  of  Suffield 

Mr.  John  Burbank  of  Suffield 

Mr.  James  Burbeen  of  Wilmington 

Mr.  Tofeph  Burbeen 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ifaac  Burr  of  Worcefter 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Burt  of  Briftol          (for  nine) 

Mr.  Thomas  Buttler  (for  two) 

Mr,  John  Buttolph  (for  two) 

Mr.  Jofias  Byles 

C 

The  Hon.  John  Chandler  of  Woodftock  Efq; 
The  Hon.  John  Cufliing  of  Scituate  Efq,- 
The  Hon.  John  Chandler  of  Worcefter  Efq; 
The  Hon.  John  Chipman  of  Newport  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Clap  Rector  of  Tale- College 

in  New-  Haven 
John  Cabot  M.  A. 

Mr.  Charles  Caldwell  of  Guitford  Merchant 
Mr.  Jofeph  Calfe 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Callender  of  Newport 
Mr.  Jofeph  Callender 
Mr.  Samuel  Carey  jun. 
Mr.  Jofiah  Carter 
Mr.  Thomas  Carlton 

Ths  Rev.  Mr.  Jofeph  Champney  of  Beverky 
Mr.  Samuel  Chandler  jun.  of  Concord 
Mr.  John  Channing  of  Newport 
Jofiah  Chace  of  Newbury  M.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Stephen  Chace  of  Lyn 
Mr.  Jofiah  Chauncy  of  Hadley 
David  Cheesborough  of  Newport  M.  A.  Merchant 
Capt.  Bartholomew  Cheever 
Mr.  Nathanael  Cheney  of  Newbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Cheney  of  Broikfield 
Mr.  Jonathan  Church  of  Springfield 
Mr.  Elijah  Ciap 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Supply  Clap  of  Woburn 


SUBSCRI  HERS.  J 

Thomas  Clap  of  Scituate  Efq; 

C-ipt.  Jonathan  Clark  Merchant 

Mr.  Jofiah  Clark 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Peter  Clark  of  Sakm-Fillags 

William  Clark  M.  A.  Phyfician 

Mr.  Enoch  Cleveland  of  Acton 

Mr.  Samuel  Clifford  of  Kenfington 

Mr.  Nathan  Clough  of  Kenfington 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Coburn 

Mr.  Seth  Coburn 

William  Coddington  jun.  of  Newport  Efq; 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Peter  Coffin  of  Kingfton 

Mr. .  Triftram  Coffin  of  Newbury 

John  Colman  Efq; 

Capt.  Nathanael  Colman  of  Hatfield 

Mr.  David  Colfon 

Mr.  John  Colfon  - 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Benjamin  Colton  of  Hartford 

Mr.  Jonathan  Colton  of  falling  ford 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jeremiah  Condy 

Jofiah  Gonvers  M.  A.  Phyfician 

Mr.  John  Cook  of  Hartford 

Middlecott  Cook  M.  A. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Cook  of  Cambridge 

The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Cook  of  Sudbury 

Mr.  Richard  Cotta  (for  two) 

Mrs.  Johannah  Cottle  of  Newbury 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Cotton  of  Newton 

Jofiah  Cotton  of  Plymouth  Efq,- 

Roland  Cotton  M.  A. 

Mr.  John  Cragin  of  A  ft  on 

Major  Jofeph  Crosbey  of  Eraintree 

Richard  Crouch  of  Hadley  Efq; 

Mr.  Robert  Cum  ing  of  Concord 

Mr.  Witter  Cumin gs  of  Newbury  (for  two) 

Mr.  Ephraim  Curtis  of  Sudbury 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jeremiah  Curtis  of  Pant  born 

The  Rev.  Mr.  PHilip  Curtis  of  Stougkton 

c  2  George 


6  SUBSCRIBERS^ 

George  Curwin  of  Salem  M.  A. 
Samuel  Curwin  of  Salem  M.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Caleb  Cuming  of  Salisbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Cuming  of  Haverhitt 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Job  Cuming  of  Shrewsbury 
The  Rev.  Air.  John  Cuming  of  Boxford 
Mr.  Jofeph  Cuming  of  Scitwte 
Mr.  Jonathan  Cuming 
Matthew  Cufliing  M.  A. 
Mr.  David  Guttler 
Robert  Cuttler  B.  A. 

D 

The  Hon.  Paul  Dudley  of  Roxbury  Efq; 
The  Hon.  William  Dudley  of  Roxbury  Efq; 
The  Hon.  Samuel  Danforth  of  Cambridge  Efq; 
Capt.  Michael  Dal  ton  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Darby  of  Concord 
Thomas  Darling  M.  A. 
Mr.  John  Darrell 

Mr.  William  Davenport  of  Newbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofeph  Davis  of  Holden 
Mr.  James  Davidfon  of  Milfird  '3 

Aaron  Day  M.  A. 
Seth  Dean  M.  A. 

Mr.  Nathanael  Delano  of  Duxbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Devotion  of  Wimlham 
The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Diman  of  Salem 
Mr.  William  Diodate  of  New-Haven  Merchant 
Mr.  Jofeph  Dow 
William  Downs  M.  A, 
Mr.  Samuel  Dowfe  of  Charleftown 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Dun  bar  of  St  ought  on 
Mr.  Shem  Drown 
Mr.  Jofeph  Dyar  of  Worcester 

E 

The  Hon.  William  Ellery  of  Newport  Efq,-  (for  two) 
Mr.  Benjamin  Eaftabrook  of  Sudbury 
Mr.  Jofeph  Edwards  Bookfeller    r       (for  twelve) 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Nathanael  JEells  of  Scitutfe         The 


SUBSCRIBERS.  7 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jacob  Eliot  of  Lebanon 
Mr.  Edward  Ellis  Phyfician 
Mr.  Mofes  Emery  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Stephen  Emery  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Benjamin  Emmons  (for  two) 

Mr.  David  Enfign  of  Hartford 
John  Erving  Efq;  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Francis  Evelith 

F 
Henry  Frankland  Efq,-  Colleftor  of  his  Majefty's 

Cuftoms  for  the  Port  of  Bofton  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Barnabas  Farnam  of  Rumford 
Daniel  Farnam  of  Newbury  M.  A.  (for  two) 

Nathanael  Farrand  jun.  of  Milford  M.  A. 
Mr.  John  Farwell 
Mr.  Jonathan  Fiffield  of  Hampton 
Benjamin  Fitch  M.  A.  (for  two) 

Benjamin  FlaggEfq;Sheriffof  theCounty  offProrcejt& 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Flagg  of  Cheftnre 
Mr.  Jofeph  Fletcher  of  Acton 
Mr.  Thomas  Fleet  Printer  (for  fix) 

Capt.  James  Flucker  of  Charlefto-wn          (for  two) 
Henry  Flynt  Efq;  Fellow  of  Harvard -College 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jeremiah  Fogg  of  Kenfington 
Mr.  Edward  Fofter  of  Suffield 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Fowle  of  Hingham 
Mr.  Ifaac  Fowles 
Mr.  John  Fox 

Mrs.  Sarah  Frankland  (for  fix) 

Capt.  Thomas  Frankland  Commander  of  his  Majc- 

fty's  Ship  Rofe  (for  two) 

Mr.  John  Franklyn 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Frink  of  Rutland 
Stephen  Froft  M.  A.  (for  two) 

Mr.  John  Fuller  of  Eaft-Haddam 

G 

The  Hon.  John  Greenleafe  of  AT<?^r3/Efq;(forfix) 
Mr.  Mofes  Gage  of  Bradford 
Benjamin  Gale  of  Killingf worth  M.  A.  Phyfician  (2) 
Cape.  Caleb  Gardner  of  Newport 
David  Gardiner  of  New-London  M.  A.         (for  two) 


8  SUBSCRIBERS. 

The  Rep.  Mr.  John  Gardner  of  Stow 

Nathanael  Gardner  M.  A. 

Samuel  Gardner  of  Salem  M.  A. 

Mr,  Samuel  Gardner  Merchant 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Gates  of  Eafl-Haddam 

Mr.  Jofeph  Gates  of  Eaft-Haddam 

Mr.  Fh  in  eh  as  Gates  of  Stow 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Gay  of  Hin^ham 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Gay  of  Suffield 

Mr.  Lnflier  Gay  of  Dedham 

Mr.  Bartholottiew  Gedney 

Hugh  Geltfon  of  Long-IJland  Efq; 

Benjamin  Gerrifh  of  Salem  M.  A.  Merchant 

Mr.  Benjamin  Gerrifh 

Col.  Jofeph  Gerrifh  of  Newbury 

Mr.  Mofes  Gerrifh  of  Ne-wbury 

Samuel  Gerrifh  M.  A.  Merchant  g, 

Mr.  Thomas  Gib  of  Mi/ford 

Nicholas  Oilman  of  Kingfton  Efq; 

Mr.  John  Oilman  of  Kingfton  (for  two) 

Henry  Oibbs  of  Sakm  M.  A.  Merchant 

Samuel  Gibfon  M.  A. 

Mr.  Timothy  Gibfon  of  Stow 

Mr.  John  Godfrey  of  Taunt  on 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Golcichwait  (for  two) 

Capt.  James  Gooch  of  Hopkinton 

Mr.  John  Gooch  Merchant  (for  fix) 

Ttie  Rev.  Air.  Nathanael  Gookin  of  Hampton 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Gofs  of  Boltm        (for  fix) 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Gould  of  Long-IJland 

Mr.  Harrifon  Gray  Merchant  (for  three) 

Mrs.  Abigail  Green 

Mr.  Benjamin  Green  Merchant  (for  two) 

Capt.  Jeremiah  Green  (for  four) 

Mr.  Jonas  Green 

Jofeph  Green  M.  A. 

Mr.  Timothy  Green  of  New-London  Printer(for  6) 

Mr.  Jofeph  Greenleafe  of  Newbwy 

Mr. 


SUBSCRIBERS.  9 

Mr.  RichardGreenleafeof  NewburyMerA.  (for  12) 
Mr.  Stephen  GreenleafeM.  A.  Merchant  (for  two) 
Mr.  Triftram  Greenleafe  of  Netvbury 
Mr,  Samuel  Greenough  of  Newbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Greenwood  of  Rehoboth 
Samuel  Greenwood  M.  A. 
Jeremiah  Gridley  Efq; 

H 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Edward  Holyoke,  Prefident  of  Har 
vard  College,  in  Cambridge.  (for  four) 
Mofes  Hale  of  Newbury  M.  A. 
Mr.  Nathan  Hale  of  Newbury 
Thomas  Hale  of  Newbury  Efq: 
Mr.  Jofeph  Hall  of  Rumford 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Hall  of  Wallingfard  (for  three) 
Capt.  Stephen  Hall 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Theophilus  Hall  of  Wallingford(fa  2) 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Willard  Hall  of  Wejlford 
Mr.  William  Hall 
Mr.  Benjamin  Hallowell 

Belcher  Hancock  M.  A.  Fellow  of  HarvardCollege 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Hancock  of  Braintree(for  two'} 
Mr.  Thomas  Hancock  Merchant  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Elnathan  Hanmer  of  Newport 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Timothy  Harrington  ofdfbuelot  (for  2) 
Mr.  William  Hardy  jun.  of  Bradford 
Mr.  John  Harpin  of  Milford  Phyfician 
Mr.  Benjamin  Harris  of  Newbitry  Merchant 
The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Hart  of  Saybrook  (for  two) 
Jonathan  Haftings  M.  A.  of  Cambridge 
Mr.  Waitftill  Haftings  of  Hatfald  Phyfician 
Mr.  Hezekiah  Hapgood  of  Stout 
Mr.  Jofiah  Hay  wood  of  Concord 
Mr.  Richard  Hazen  of  Haverhill 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Stephen  Heaton  of  Go/ben  (for  two) 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Nathanael  Henchman  of  I^w(for  four) 
Mr.  Eliftia  Hide  of  Norwich 
Mr,  Jofeph  Higgins  of  Lyme  (for  two)- 

c  4  The 


10  S  U'B'S  c  R-I  B  E  R  s. 

Mr.  Stephen  Higginfon  of  Salem  Merchant 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Abraham  Hill  of  Rhode-Town 

Mr.  Jofeph  Hills  of  Newbury  Phyfician 

Mr.  Samuel  Hill 

Mr.  Smith  Hills  of  Newbury 

Jonathan  Hoar,  M.  A. 

Mr.  Stephen  Hobs  of  Kenfington 

Samuel  Holbrooke  M.  A. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hinfdale  of  Fort-Dummer 

Mr.  Jofeph  Holt  of  fPalUngford 

Jofeph  Holt  of  Andover  M.  A. 

Capt.  John  Homans 

The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Honeyman  of  Newport 

The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Hooper  (for  two) 

Mr.  John  Hopkinfon  of  Bradford 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Hopkins  of  Springfield 

Mr.  Ephraim  Hofmer  of  Concord 

Mr.  Jonathan  Hofmer  of  Afton 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Stephen  Hofmer  of  Haddam 

Mr.  James  Hovey  of  Plymouth 

Mr.  Luke  Hovey 

The  Rev.  Mr.  NathanaelHunnof  Reading  in  CojineB* 

Mr.  Jabez  Hunt 

Mr.  Jacob  Hurd 

Mr.  Samuel  Hunting  of  Long-Jfland 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Hews  of  Newbury 

Thomas  Hutchinfon  E%  (for  two) 

Edward  Jackfon  M.  A.  *  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Jofeph  Jackfon 

Mr.  Thomas  Jackfon 

Mr.  Jofeph  Jacob  of  Scituate 

George  Jaffrey  jun.  of  Portf mouth  M.  A. 

Mr.  Leonard  Jarvis  Merchant 

Mr.  James  Jeffrey  of  Salem  Merchant 

Mr.  David  Jenkins 

Mr.  William  Jennifon  of  tFatertown 

Mr. 


SUBSC  RIP  TIONS.  II 

Mr.  Edward  Jennings 

Mr.  John  Indicott  jun. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Johnfon  of  Stratford 

The  Rev.  Mr.  William  Johnfon  of  Newbury 

Mr.  Samuel  Johnfon 

Mr.  Timothy  Johnfon  (for  two) 

Thomas  Jones  B.  A. 

K 

Mr.  John  Kelley  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Daniel  Kembal 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Kendal  of  New-Salem 
Thomas  Kilby  Efq;  (for  twelve) 

Mr.  Jofeph  King  of  Suffield 
Mr.  Jofiah  King  of  Suffield 
Mr.  Benjamin  Kneeland  jun. 

L 

The  Hon.  Benjamin  Lynde  of  Salem  Efq; 
The  Hon.  Ifaac  Lothrop  of  Plimouth  Efq; 
The  Hon.  Benjamin  Lynde  jun.  of  Salem  Efq; 
Joihua  Lamb  of  Roxbury  Efq; 
Mr.  William  Lampfon  of  King  ft  on 
Mr.  Benjamin  Landon  Merchant 
Capt.  John  Larrabee  Lieut,  of  Cajlle  Wm    (for  2  ) 
Mr.  Thomas  Law  of  Afton 
Capt.  James  Leavett 
Mr.  Jonathan  Leavett 

Jofeph  Lee  M.  A.  Merchant  (for  two) 

Mr.  Knight  Leverett  (for  two) 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Daniel  Lewis  tof  Pembrook 
Daniel  Lewis  jun.  of  Pembrook  M.  A. 
Mr.  Eliflia  Lewis  of  Farmington 
Ezekiel  Lewis  jun.  M.  A.  Merchant 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Ifaiah  Lewis  of  Eajlbam 
Mr.  John  Light 

Benjamin  Lincoln  of  Hingham  Efq; 
Mr.  David  Little  jun.  of  Marfbfieid 


12  SUBSCRIPTIONS. 

Mr.  Enoch  Little  of  Newbury 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ephraim  Little  of  Cokhefter(for  two) 

Otis  Little  of  Marfbfield  Efq; 

Mr.  Andrew  Lord  of  Saybrook 

John  Loring  M.  A.  Phyfician  (for  two) 

Jonathan  Loring  of  Marlborough  M.  A. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ifrael  Loring  of  Sudbury 

Mr.  Henry  Lovejoy  of  Rumford 

John  Lovel  M.  A.  Matter  of  the  South  Grammar- 

School 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Lowell  (for  two) 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Lowell  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Jofhua  Lunt 
Mr.  Stephen  Lyferd  of  Exeter 
Mr.  Caleb  Lyrnan  (for  two) 

William  Lynde  of  Salem  M.  A.  Merchant 
Mr.  Jofiah  Lyndon  of  Newport,  (for  two) 

M  < 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Thaddeus  Maccarty  of  King  [Ion 
Mr.  Hugh  Mc'Daniel  (for  two) 

Mr.  Pelatiah  Man  of  Wrentham 
Richard  Mansfield  B.  A. 
Mr.  Richard  Mansfield  of  Sudbury 
Mr.  Jonathan  Marble  of  Stow 
Mr.  Jacob  March  of  Newbury  Phyfician 
Capt.  Daniel  Marquand 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Cyrus  Marfli 
Mr.  Daniel  Marfh  of  'Hadley 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Marfh  of  Hadley 
The  Rev.  Mr  Eliflia  Marfh  of  Narraganfett    » 
Mr.  Job  Marfh  of  Hadley  • 

John*  Marfh  of  Hartford  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jonathan  Mariii  jun.  of  New- Hartford 
Jofeph  Marfli  M,  A. 

Thomas  Marfli  M.  A.  Fellow  of  Harvard- College 
Mr.  Benjamin  Marfiiall  of  Providence 
Mr.  Jofeph  Marfhall  of  Milford  (for  three) 

Thaddeus  Mafon  M.  A. 

Mofes 


SUBSCRIBERS.  13 

Mofes  Mather  M.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Mather 
Mr.  Timothy  Mather  of  Lyme 
Jofeph  May  hew  M.  A.  Fellow  of 'Harvard-  College 
John  Mellen  B.  A. 
Mr.  John  Melven  of  Concord 
Mr.  Benjamin  Merrell  of  Kilttngfworth 
Mr.  Nathanael  Merrell  of  Nottingham 
Mr.  John  Merriam  of  falling  ford 
Capt.  Nathanael  Merriam  of  Wallingford 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Noah*  Merriam  of  Springfield 
Mr.  John  Miles  of  Concord 
Mr.  Samuel  Miles  of  Concord 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Richardfon  Miner  of  Unity 
Col.  James  Minot  of  Concord 
Stephen  Minot  jun.  M.  A.  Merchant 
Mr.  John  Moffat  of  Portfmoutb  Merchant 
Mr.  John  Moffat  (for  two) 

Mr.  Thomas  Moffat  Merchant 
Mr.  William  Molineaux  Merchant 
Mr.  Caleb  Moody  of  Newbury 
Mr.  Benjamin  Moody  of  Ncwbury 
Mr.  Jofhua  Moody  of  Newbury  (for  two) 

Mr.  Uriah  Moor  of  Sudbury 
Mr.  William  Moor  of  Sudbury 
Mrs.  Mary  Mumford  of  Newport 
Mr.  Abraham  Moulton 
Mr.  Jofiah  Moulton 
John  Mjirdock  of  Plymouth  Efq;  (for  fix) 

N 

Mr.  Samuel  Nelfon  of  Plymouth 
John  Newman  M.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Newmarch  of  Kittery 
Mr.  John  Newmarch  jun.  of  Portfmoutb 
Chriftopher  Newton  of  Milford 
Samuel  Nightingale  of  Pomfret  M.  A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel  Niles  of  Eraintree 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Abraham  Nott  of  Saybrook 


14  SUB  s  CR 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofeph  Noyes 

of  New -Haven 
Mr.  Jacob  Noyes 
John  Nutting  M.  A. 

Mr.Dudley  Odlin  of  Exeter, 

Phyfician 

EiifhaOdJinof  Exeter  M.  A. 2 
Mr,  John  Odlin  of  E xeter  2 
Woodb.Odlin  ofExeterw.A. 
Andrew  OliverEfq;  (for  fix) 
Capt.  Narhanael  Oliver  of 

Cbelfea  M.  A. 

Nathanael  Oliver  jun.  M.A. 
Peter  Oliver  M.A. Merchant 
Samuel  Olmftead  of  Eaft- 

Haddam  Efq; 
Mr/Timothy  Orne  of  Salem 

Merchant 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Ofborne 
Mr.-Dav.Ofgood  ofLancafler 
Mr.HookerOfgood  otLanca. 
John  Ofgood  ofy/wfowrEfq; 
Mr.  Thomas  Oxnard  Mer 
chant  (  for  threej 

P. 
The  Hon.  William  Pepperrell 

of  Kittery  Efq;   (for  two) 
Mr.  John  Page  of  Salijbury 
Mr.SamuelPage  ofKenftngton 
Mr. Sam. Palmer  of  Bradford 
Mr.Tho.  Palmer  Merchant 
Stephen  Parker  M.  A. 
The  ^'y.Mr.ThomasParker 

of  Dracut 
The  RevMr.  Jofeph  Parfons 

of  Bradford 
TheRev.  Mr.  SamuelParfons 

of  Rye  (for  two) 

TheRev.  Mr.WilliamParfons 

of  Southbampton  (for  two) 
Richard  Patteihall  M.  A. 


I  B  ER  s. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Payfon 
The  Rev.  Mr.Oliver  Peabody 

of  Natick  (for  two 

Mr.  William  Peirce  of  Stow 
Mr.  JohnPeirce  of  .Dorchef- 

ter  (for  two) 

Mr.  Jofi.Pierce  ofHadlfyM.A 
Mr.J.  Pierfonof  Newbury(i) 
Benjamin  Pembcrton  Efq; 
N.  Perkins  M.  A.  Phyfician 
Nicholas  Ferryman  of  Exe 

ter  Efq; 
JohnPhilips  M.  A.  Chaplain 

of  Caftle  William 
Mr.  Nicholas  Phillips  jun.  of 

JFeymoutb. 

Capt.  Benj.Pickman  ofSalem 
Capr.  Elias  Pike  of  Salisbury 
Tim.  Pike  of  Newbury({oti) 
Mr.  Jofiah  Piper  of  Afton 
Jnmes  Pitts  M.  A.  Merchant 
Mr.  N.  Piper  of  Concord 


Col.  Benj.  Pollard  ("for  two 
TheRev  Mr.  JohnPrentice  of 

Lancafter 
The  RevMr.  JofhuaPrentice 

of  HolUJlon 
TheRev.  Mr.  Benjamin  Pref 

ect  of  Salem  . 
Mr.  Cha.  Prefcot  of  Concord 
John  Prefcot  of  CencordECq; 
Mr.    Jonathan   Prefcott  of 

Kenfington 

Mr.  S.  Prefcott  of  Hampton 
Mr.  John  Prince  of  Kinpflon 
Mr.  Nathan  Pro&er  of  Stow 

a 

The  Hon.  John  Quincy  of 
Braintree  Efq;  (for  two) 

Norton  Qaincy  M.  A.  Mer 

chant  (for  twoj 

The 


B  S  C  R 


R 


TheRrj.  Mr.  William  Rand 
of  Sunder  land     (for  four) 

Mr.  John  Rawlings 

Grindall  Rawfon  M.  A. 

Mr.  William  Reed  Attorney 
at  Law 

Mr.  Abraham  Reller 

Mr.   Jofeph  Remington  of 
Suffietd 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Caleb  Rice  of 
Sturbridge. 

Mr.  Dav.Rice  of  Shrewsbury 

Mr.  Jon.  Rice  of  Sudbury 

Aaron  Richards  B.  A. 

Jof.Richards  ofDedhamEfq; 

Mr.  D.  Robins  of  Lancafter 

David  Robinfon  M.  A. 

Mr.Eph.  Robinfon  of  King- 
Jlon  (for  two) 

Mr.  JamesRobinfon  of 'New 
port  Phyfician 

Mr.  Jeremiah  Robinfon 

Mr.  JohnRobinfon(for  two) 

Mr.  Benjamin  Rogers 

TheRev.  Mr.  Daniel  Rogers 
of  Littleton 

The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Rogers 

Benj.  Rolf  of  RumfordEfq-, 

HenryRolf  of  Ntwbury  Efq; 
(for  two) 

Mr.  Robert  Rogers  of  Alms- 
bury  Phyfician 

Mr«  Thomas  Rogers  jun,  of 
Neivbury 

Mr.  Benj.Rowe  of  Kenfing- 
ton  Phyfician 

Mr.Ebenezer  Rowe  oiKen- 
fington 

Mr.  Eben.  Rgwell  of  Eafl- 
H add  am 

Thomas  Rowell  Efq; 


i  BE  R  s.  15 

Jacob  Royal  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Rug- 

gles  of  Gmlford  (for  two) 
TheRtv.  Mr.  Samuel  Ruggles 

of  Billerica 
Mr.  Simon  Rumpill 
Capt.  Daniel  Ruffcl  of  New- 

port  (for  two) 

Chambers  RufTel  of  Concord 

Efq; 
Mr.  James  RufTel  of  Cbarlef- 

town  Merchant  (for  two) 
Mr.  John  RufTel 
Mr.  Nathanael  Ruflcl 

S 
The  Hon.  Richard  Saltonftall 

Efq;  (for  three) 

The   Hon.    Stephen   Sewall 

E%  (  for  two) 

Mr.  Malachi  Salter  jun. 
Mr.  Sampfon  Salter 
Mr.  Ca.  San  born  of  Hampton 
Mr.  Jofeph  Savel 
Mr.  T.  Savoury  of  Bradford 
Mr.  Jofiah  Sauburn  of  Exeter 
Edw.  Scott  of  Newport  Efq; 
Mr.  Jomua  Sayer. 
Mr.Sam.  Seabury  ofDuxbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  James  Searing 

of  Newport 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jof.  Secombe 

of  Kingfton         (for  twoj 


geant  of  Methuen 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Sergeant 

of  Stockbridge 
Mr.  Mofes  Sergeant. 
Mr.  Samuel  Sarvice 
Nicholas   Sever  of   Kingftcn 

Efq;  (  for  two) 

Mitchel  Sewall  of  Sakm  Efq; 
Mr.  John  Shaw 

Capt. 


16  S  u  B  s  CR 

Capt.     Edward    Sheafe     of 

Charleftown  (for  four) 
Mr.  Daniel  Shephard  of/ffton 
Mr.  J.  Shephard  of  Sottghegon 
Mr.  Samuel  Sherburn  of 

Porlfmoutb          (  for  two) 
James  Skinner  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Skin 
ner  of  Colchefter 
'The  Rev.  Mr.  Aaron  Smith 

of  Marlbarough 
Jabez  Smith  of  HamptonEfy, 
Mr.  James  Smith  of  A^zf^ry 
J.  Smith  of  MiifordM.*.($} 
Mr. Jofhua  Smith  ofSbreivf- 

bury  (  for  three  ) 

The  Rev.  Mr. William  Smith 

of  Weymouth 
William  Smith  B.   A. 
Mr.  Job  Snell 
The  Rfv.  Mr.   John  South- 
maid  ®ilVaterbury  (for  2) 
Mr.  S.  Southworth  of  Lyme 
The  Rev.  Mr.   John    Spar- 

hawke  of  Salem 
Mr.    Nathanael  Sparhawke 

of  Kittery  Merchant 
The  Rtv.  Mr.Sampfon  Spaul- 

ding  of  Too h bury 
John   Sprao;ue  of    Nevubury 

M.A.  Phyfician 
Mr.  John  Staniford 
The  Rev.  Mr.  David  Stearns 

of  Lunenburgh 

Mr.  Sreph.  Steel  of  Hartford 
Mr.    Gerfhom     Stetfon    of 

Scitudtt 

Benjamin  Stevens  M.  A. 
TheRev.M.*.  Phineas  Stevens 

of  Contacook 
Mr.  Samuel  Stevens 
Mr.  Simon-  Stone 


I  B  E  R  s. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Ifaac  Stiles  of 

E  a  ft -Haven     (  for  three^ 

Mr.   Jeremiah  Scickney    of 

Rumford 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Scorer  (for  4) 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofiah  Swan 

of   Dunflable 

Robert  Swanton,  Comman 
der  of  his  Majefty's  Ship 
Aftrea  (  for  fix) 

Mr.Steph.  Swettof  Newbury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  John  Swift  of 

framing  ham 
Jof.Sylvefter  oiNewport  M.A 

T 
The  Hon.  Jonathan  Trumble 

of  Lebanon  Efq; 
Samuel    Talcott,    Sheriff  of 
HartfordEfq;  (for  twelve) 
Mr.  John  Tanner  ^Newport 
The  Rsv.  Mr.  John  Taylor 
of  Milton         -  (  for  two) 
Mr.  William  Taylor  (for  3) 
Mr.  T.Tannatt  of  Newbury 
Mr.  P.  Tenney  of  Bradford 
John  Thaxter  B.  A. 
Deacon  CorneliusThayer(2) 
Mr.  Cornelius   Thayer  jun. 
Mr.  Nathanael    Thayer 
Mr.  Onifiphorus  TiJeftone 
Capt.JethroTilton  ofHamp- 

t  on- Fa  Us 

Capt.  Jofeph  Tilton  of  Ditto 
Mr.  Jofiah  Titcombe 
The  Rev.  Mr,  Jonathan  Todd 
of  Guilford       (  for  two  ) 
Mr.'  Mitchael  Todd  of  New- 
Haven  Merchant  (for  4  ) 
The  Rev.   Mr.    Chriftopher 

Toppan  of  Newkury 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofeph  l^orrey 
of  South- King$Qn  (  for  4  ) 
Mr. 


S  U  B  S  C  R 

Mr.  William  Torrey  (for  6) 
Mr.  J.Townfend  of  Newport 
Mr.  Thomas  Townfend 
Mr.  P.  Tracey  of   Newbury 
Mr.  R.  Treat  of  Middleton 
Edmund  Trowbridge  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Jolhua  Tu/ts 

of  Litcbfeld 
The  Rev.  Mr.  David  Turner 

of  Reboboth  (  for  three) 
John  Tamer  of  Salem  Efq; 
Mr.Samuel  Ty  ley  (for  three) 
Samuel  Tyleyjun.  M.A.  (6) 
Capt.  Edward  Tyng  (for  2) 

V     U 

Mr.  Edward  Vaii 
William  VafTall    M.   A. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Edward  Up- 

ham  of  Springfitld 

W 
The  Hon.  Jofeph  Wilder  of 

Lancafler  Efq; 
The  Hon.  James  Wadfworth 

of  Durham  Efq; 


Secretary  of  theColony  of 

Cqnntfticut 
The  Hon.  Richard  Wibird  of 

Portfmouth   Efq; 
Mr.  J.   Wadley  of  King/ton 
The  Rev,  Mr.  Daniel  Wadf 

worth  of  Hartford 
DeaconThomasWait  (fori) 
Mr.  Samuel  Walker  of  Wil 

mington 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Tim.  Walker 

of  Rum  ford 
Mr.     Thomas    Walker   of 

Newbury  Merchanrffor  3) 
The   Rev.    Mr.     Nehemiah 

Walter  of  Roxbury 
The    Rev.    Mr.   Nathanael 
Waiter  of  Rcxbury 


I  B  E  R  S.  17 

James  Warren,  Efq  -,Sheriff  of 

theCounty  of  Pllmouih(ji) 
Capt.  Robert  Watt 
Capt.  Samuel  Waterhoufe 
Mr.  Daniel  Warner  oSSpring- 

fiald  (for  two) 

Mr.  J.  Weare  of  Kenfmgton 
Mefech     Weare  of   Hamp 

ton-Falls  M.  A.  (for  two) 
Nathanael  Weare  of  Hamp 

ton  Efq;    (for  two) 
Mr.  Jonathan  Webb 
Mr.  Jofeph  Webb  (for  two) 
The  £*w,Mr.Eliflia  Webfter 

of  Canaan 


of   Salisbury 
Noah  Wells  B.  A. 
Mr.     Samuel     Went  worth 

M.A.  Merchant  (Tor  two) 
Mrs.   Deliverance   Wheder 

of  Stow 
Mr.    Jeremiah   Wheeler  of 

Concord 

Mr.  Hez.  Wheeler  oMfton 
JeremiahWheelvvright  M.A. 
Mr.  Joh.Wheelwright  Mer 

chant  (for  two) 

Mr.  John  Wheelwright  jun. 

Merchant 
Mr,  Nathanael  Wheelwright 

Merchant 

Mr.  Theodore  Wheelwright 
TheRev.Mr.  Jofeph  Whipple 

of  Hampton-  Falls(tor  four) 
Mr.  Abijah  White  of  Marjh- 

field 

Mr.  Cornelius  White 
The    Rev.    Mr.   Ebenezer 

White  of  Norton 
John  White  M.  A. 
Mr.  John  White  jun. 

Mr. 


UBSCRIB  ER  S. 


Mr.  Sam.  White  of  Taunton 
Mr.  Thomas  White 
Mr.  William  White  (for  2) 
Mr.  E.  Whiting  tfWrentham 
Mr.  John  Whiting  M.  A. 
Mr.  JohWhiting  of  'Hartford 
Mr.  Stephen  Whiting 
Mr.  T.  Whiting  of  Concord 
Mr.  A.  Whittelfey  oSSaybrook 
Mr.    Elifha    Whittelfey    of 
FPallingfirJMcrchant  (4) 
TheRev.Mr.  Samuel  Whit 


The  Rev.  ^/r.Samuel  VVhit- 


The  Rev.  Mr.  SamuelWhit- 

man  of  Farmington(fot  2) 
Mr.  Samuel  Whitman  jun. 

of  Farmmgton 
Mr.  Elnathan  Whitman  of 

Hartford 
Mr.  Jonathan  Whitney   of 

Wrentbam 

Mr.  Rich.  Whitney  of  Stow 
S.Wickham  of  NewportEfy 


The  Rev.  Mr.  War.  Williams 

of  fflaltham 

Mr.  T.  Wilfon  of  Kingfton 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Pain  Winget 

of  Almjbury       (for  two) 

Ed\vardWinilowEfq;Sheriff 

of  the  Count    ^ 


Mr. Da v.  Wilder  o(Lanca/ter 
Mr.CalebWilderof/;*»r*/?rr 
TheRev.  Mr. Cheft.  Williams 

of  Had  ley 

Samuel  Willard  Efq;  (for  2) 
ThcRevMr.  Eben. Williams 

of  Pom  fret 

J.  Williams  of  Taunton  Efq; 
Capt.  Williams  of  Deerfield 
Mr.  Robert  Williams 
Mr.  T. Williams  of  Deerfield 
g3»  A  confiderable  Number  of  Subfcribers  to  this  Boo-k  fend 
ing  too  late,  their  Names  could  not  be  inferted. 

CORRECTIONS. 

Pag.  85.1.15.  after  ofr.Mr.  P.  89.  1.  7.  of  the  Notes  r. 
propinquo.  P. 90.  I.  5.  of  theNotes  for  me  r.  mt.  Pi239  1.15 
after  been  r.  fo.  P.  279.  I.  23.  after  which  r.  be,  P.  384.  i. 
22.  for  exceptionable  r.  unexceptionable* 


M.  A.  (for  two) 

Jofliua  Winflow  Efq; 
Ifaac  Winflow  M.A.Mcrch. 
Mr.KenelmWinflow  (for4j 
Mr.  S.  Winflow  M.A.Merch. 
John  Winthrop  M.A.   Hoi. 

Pro.  Ma.  HarvardCollege 
Mr.  .....  -Witt  oiBrookftld 

JohnWolcott  of  Salem  Efq; 
Mrs.  Abigail  Woodbridge  of 

Hartford  (for  three) 

Mr.Bennet  Wood  of  Littleton 
Mr.  John  Wood  of  Concord 
TheRev.  Mr.  B.  Woodbridge 

of  Amity 

Benjamin  Woodbridge  M.A. 
Dudley  Woodbridge  M.A  of 

Groton  (for  fix) 

Mr.  Thomas  Wcodbridge 
Mr.  J.  Woodman 
Mr.  J.  Woodman 
Mr.  D.  Woodward  ofSudbury 
Mr.  J.  Woodward  of  Sudbury 
Mr.  John  Worth  of  Hampton 
TheRev  Mr.  William  Wor- 

thington  for  two) 

Mr.  Abijah  Wyman 
Y 


INTRODUCTION, 


o 


N  E  of  the  firfl  Fathers  of  this  Country^ 
the  memorable  SHEPARD  (  whofe  Wri 
tings  have  been,  of  late,  fo  highly  eoni- 

mended  )  thought  it  needful  to  caution 

People,  *  <f  not  to  truft  Men  too  far,  nor  boaft 
€e  of  any  Man  too  much  ;  efpecially,  in  Regard 
ff  of  his  glorious  Profefflon  and  Affections  at  prjf* 
tf  GOD  (fays  he)  fends  divers  of  his  faithful  Ser* 
**  vants  to  a  Place  ;  and  many,  at  firft  hearing^ 
f(  are  wrought  upon,  battered  down,  convinc'dj 
"  mourning  after  Peace,  going  to  Minifters,  De- 
"  light  in  Ordinances  :  Now  many  blefs  GOD 
<f  for  their  Converfeon ;  and  many  a  Chriflian  is  put 
fe  out  of  Doubt  of  it,  Parents  of  their  Children, 
"  and  Children  of  their  Parents  ,•  one  Brother  of 
fe  another,  and  one  Chriftian  Neighbour  of  ano- 
*f  ther.----O  take  Heed  of  boafting  too  much  !  Ic 
«  may  be  they  may,  and  will  fall  down  (before 
"  they  have  liv'd  many  Years  )  when  at  their 
<c  Height.  What  Man  was  ever  more  fought  unto 
«c  than  JOHN  ?  All  JUDEA  came  unto  him  ;  yet,  at 
*f  laft  they  forfake  him,  rejoiced  but  a  Seafon  iri 
<c  his  Light.'  They  went  alfofrom  him  to  CHRIST,- 
*c  (John  7.  26.  32.)  yet,  JOHN  complains,  none  re- 
"  ceived  his  Teilimony .  CHRIST  himfelf  preached 

*  See  his  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins y  fecond  Part> 
Page  6i> 

'B  «*  m 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

"  in  CAPERNAUM,  and  never  ftich  exalting  a  Man  : 
"  They  boa/led  in  him  :  Yet  only  a  few  Babes 
"  which  the  LORD  wrought  upon.  The  GALATI- 
"  ANS  would  loofe  their  Eyes  for  PAUL  ;  yet,  af- 
ff  terward  they  flight  him,  and  join  with  falfe 
"  Teachers  againft  him.  O  therefore  pray  for 
'<  them,  and  weep  for  them,  but  do  not  truftthem 
(f  too  far  !  Neither  truft  yourfelves  too  much., 
"  Then  are  ye  my  Difciples,  (Joh.  8.  31.)  If  ye  con* 
"  time.  DEMAS  forfakes  PAUL  :  All  in  A$a  for- 
«  fake  me." 

Had  this  obfervable  Caution  been  the  Produft  of 
a  Spirit  of  Prophefy,  I  can  fcarce  fee,  how  it  could, 
in  a  more  pointed  Manner,  have  admonifhed  us 
in  thefe  Days.  1  here  never  was  a  Time,  in  this 
Land,  wherein  there  was  fuch  flocking  after  fomc 
particular  Minifters,  and  glorying  in  them,  as  though 
they  were  GODS  rather  than  Men  ;  never  a  Time, 
wherein  Men's  Profejjlons  and  Affections  rofe  high 
er  ,•  never  a  Time,  wherein  Converfions,  numerous 
Converfions  were  fo  much  boafled  of  :  Would 
to  GOD,  there  was  no  Reafon  to  fufpe£l  the  Truth 
of  any  one  of  them  /  But  it  ought  always  to  be 
remembred,  there  may  be  a  veryfpecious  Shew,  where 
there  is  not  theSubftance  of  Religion:  NorarePer- 
fons  without  Danger  of  refling  in  the  former,  to 
the  Negleft  of  the  latter  :  And,  it  may  be  feared, 
whether  this  Danger  han't  been  greatly  increafed, 
while  fo  many  have  been  encouraged  to  look  upon 
themfelves  as  in  a  State  of  Grace,  without  that 
Proof  of  the  Reality  of  their  Converfion,  which  mighc 
reafonably  be  expelled.  There  has  certainly  been 
too  much  Haft e,  as  well  as  Pofttivenefs,  in  declaring 
thefe  and  thofe,in  this  and  the  other  Place,  to  have 
paJJedfromD-eath  to  Life:  A  Judgment  has  hieentoo 
commonly  formed  of  Meu's  Jpiritwl  Condition 

more 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

more  from  their  Affettions,  than  the  -permanent  Tem 
per  of  their  Minds  difcovered  in  the  habitual  Con- 
duft  of  their  Lives ;  not  duly  confidering,  how  pre 
carious  that  Religion  muil  be,  which  has  its  Rife 
from  the  Paffions,  and  not  any  thorow  Change  in 
the  Under/landing  and  Will 

Much,  I  am  fenfible,  has  been  faid,  in  thefe 
Days,  of  a  Work  of  GOD  going  on  in  the  Land  : 
And  I  truft,  this  has  all  along  been  the  Cafe  with 
this  People,  from  the  Days  of  our  Fathers  :  Audi 
doubt  not,  'tis  fo  now  ;  nay,  I  charitably  hope, 
there  have  been  more  numerous  Inftances  of  fa 
ying  Converjiony  in  the  Years  paft,  than  ufual  :  But 
mufl  it  not  be  faid,  at  the  fame  Time,  that  there 
have  been  more  Dlforders  and  greater  Extravagances, 
than  common  :  And  what  is  of  Hill  more  dange 
rous  Tendency,  han't  the  great  Talk  of  a  Revival 
of  Religion  arifen  more  from  the  general  Appearance 
offome  Extraor  dinar  les,  (which  there  may  be  where 
there  is  not  the  Power  of  Godllnefs}  than  from  fuch 
Things  as  arefure  Evidences  of  a  real  Work  of  GOD  in 
Men's  Hearts  ?  I  am  clearly  fatisfied,  this  is  the 
Truth  of  the  Cafe,  however  unwilling  fome  may 
be  to  own  it. 

Nor  have  People  been  fo  plainly  and  faithfully 
taught,  as  it  were  to  be  wiflit,  what  a  Work  of  GOD 
is,  or  how  to  diflinguifh  between  thofe  Things 
which  are  undoubted  Marks  of  fucb  a  Work,  and 
thofe  which  are  not.  They  have  often  been  told 
of  the  glorious  Work  of  GOD  ;  his  Work,  fo  as  was 
never  before  feen  in  our  own,  or  Fatber'sDajs. 

But  have  they  not  been  too  much  left  to  .think, 
as  if  the  Thing  hereby  intended  was,  the  late  re 
ligious  Appearance^  taken  in  the  Grofs  ?    This,  I 
B  2  believe. 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

believe,  is  the  Idea  Multitudes  have  of  what  is 
called,  the  Work  of  GOD  going,  on  in  the  Land  ; 
which,  if  it  be,  they  certainly  include  that  in  their 
Notion  of  GOD's  Work^  which  is  highly  difhono- 
rary  to  him ;  Nor  is  it  any  Wonder,  ,if,  from  this 
miftaken  Tho't  of  what  is  truly  the  Work  of  GOD, 
they  fliould  fpeak  of  thofe  as  its  OPPOSERS,  who 
are  its  greateil  FRIENDS  ;  and  have  proved  them- 
felves  to  be  fo,  by  their  Endeavours  to  difcounte- 
nance  fuch  Things  as  are  dangerous  to  Men's 
Souls,  and  may  prove  a  Hindrance  to  the  Progrefs 
of  real  Religion.  People  mull  have  in  their  Minds 
fome  diftiricc  Conception  of  the  Nature  of  a  Work 
of  GOD,  or  they  will  aft  in  the  Dark,  while 
they  embrace  thefe  as  the  Friends  of  it,  and  Hand  a- 
loof  from  thofe  as  its  Enemies  :  They  will,  in  this 
Cafe,  neither  know  what  they  fay,  nor  whereof 
they  affirm. 

What  I  propofe  therefore,  by  way  oflntrodu&i- 
on,  is,  to  exhibit,  in  as  brief  a  Manner  as  I  can,  a 
diftinft  and  clear  Idea  of  a  Work  of  GOD,  with 
the  Appearance  it  will  make ;  efpecially,  when  it  is 

remarkable. 

Now,  in  a  Senfe,  every  Thing  that  comes  to 
pafs,  may  be  cali'd  the  Work  of  GOD  ;  for  as  our 
SAVIOUR  laid  to  his  Difciples,  *  A  Sparrow Jhall  not 
fall  to  the  Ground  without  your  Father  :  The  very 
Hairs  of  your  Head  are  all  numbered.  All  great  E- 
%ents  in-  Providence,  whether  in  a  Way  of  Judg 
ment  or  Mercy  9  are  more  efpecially  the  Wwk  of 
GOD ;  according  to  that,  f  /  form  the  Light,  and 
create  Darknefs :  I  make  Peace  and  create  Evil:  I  the 
LORD  do  all  thefe  Things.  Creation  and  Redemption 

*  Matt?).  10.  29^30,     f  I/a.  45.  7. 

are 


tN  T  R  0  D  U  C  T  I  0  N.  5 

are  ftill  more  eminently  the  Works  of  GOD,  and 
always  fo  fpoken  of  in  the  Oracles  of  Truth.  But 
the  Work  of  GOD  here  intended,  is  the  fame  with 
that,  concerning  which  our  SAVIOUR  fays,  *  This  Is 
the  Work  of  GO/),  that  ye  believe  on  him  whom  GOD 
hath  fent  :  JTis  the  fame  with  that,  of  which  the 
jdpoftle  fpeak-s,  when  he  affirms,  j  that  he  mho  hath 
begun  a  good  Work  In  you,  will  perform  it  until  the 
Day  of  JESUS  CHRIST  ,*  and  which  he  calls,  f  The 
Work  of  Faith  with  Power  :  'Tis  in  one  Word, 
That  Work  of  divine  Grace,  which  is  fome  times, 
called  the  'New-Creation;  fometimes  the  New-Birth; 
fometimes  the  Spirit's  Renovation  ;  fometimes  Con- 
verjion,  or  as  'tis  otherwife  exprefs'd,  a  being  turn 
ed  from  Darknefs  to  Light  ,  and  from  the  Power  of  Sm 
and  Satan  unto  GOD, 

Let  me  obferve  the  following  Things  concern- 
Ing  this  Work  of  GOD. 

Firft  of  all,  There  is  ordinarily  fome  Preparati 

on  in  the  Mind  of  Sinners,  previous  to  it.     This 

is  call'd  by  Divines  Conviction;  by  which  is  under* 

flood  that  Operation  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT,  where 

by,  in  a  Way  agreeable  to  the  Nature  of  Man,  he 

opens  to  the  Sinner  a  View  of  himfelf,  in  his  Sin- 

fulmfs  and  Guilt:  upon  which,  he  is  driven  out  of 

"his  former  Eafe,  and  fiil'd  with  Anxiety  and  Dlf- 

trefs.      This  inward  Diilurbance  may,    as  to  its 

Degree,  be  various  in  different  Perfons  ;  but  there 

is  the  Reality  of  it  in  all  :  In  all,  I  mean,  who  have 

come  to  Years,  before  they  have  had  awakened 

in  them  ferious  Thoughts  of  their  Souls,  and  another 

World:  In  re.fpeft  of  this  Kind  of  Perfons,  &  thofq 

among  them  in  fpecial  who  have  not  been  under 


29,    |  fbil  1.3.    f  i  Tbef.  i.ii 

Reftraints 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

Re  drain ts  from  Sin,  but  have  accuftomed  them- 
felves  to  do  Evil,  'tis  rare,  if  ever,  that  the  Work 
of  GOD  is  wrought  in  them,  but  their  Confciences 
are  firil  alarmed,  and  their  Hearts  fill'd  with  bitter 
Remorfe  for  their  pafl  Follies. 

But  then,  it  may  be  worth  a  particular  Remark, 
this  Preparation  of  Mind,  is  not  the  Work  of  GOD 
in  the  fpecial  and  diflinguifhing  Senfe  ;  in  fuch  a 
Senfe,  as  that  the  Subjects  of  itj  may  be  thought 
to  be  in  a  State  of  Salvation.  Hypocrites  in  Zion 
may  fay,  Who  among  us  can  dwell  with  devouring 
fire  ?  And  they  may  be  Hypocrites  iliil  :  Nor 
is  the  greatefl  Difquietude  of  Soul  ,•  a  Difquietude 
expreffing  itfelf  in  Roarings,  or  Tremblings,  or  the 
flrangeft  bodily  Eff efts,  a  fufficient  Evidence  of  a  fa 
ying  Work  of  Grace  ;  yea,  it  may  be  nothing  more 
than  the  Effect  of  Nature  ;  or,  if  it  fhould,  in  the 
Beginning,  arife  from  a  divine  Influence,  'tis  yet  a 
Mark  of  a  converted  State  that  may  not  be  de 
pended  on.  Perfons,  notwithftanding  all  this, 
may  be  under  Condemnation,  and  finally  doom'd 
to  a  Departure  from  CHRIST  with  the  Workers  of 
Iniquity. 

It  may  be  nextly  faid,  This  Work  of  GOD  Is  a 
fecret  Thing  ;  a  Work  within  Men  ;  a  Work  ef 
fected  in  the  inward  Frame  of  their  Mind.  It  prin 
cipally  lies  in  a  new  Heart,  another  Soul ;  in  other 
Views  and  Intentions,  other  Thoughts  and  Senti 
ments,  other  Principles  and  Springs  of  A&ion  : 
All  which  Things  are  hidden,  out  of  the  Sight  of 
the  World. 

From  whence  it  follows,  by  the  Way,  that  the 
Work  of  Cody  as  an  internal  Thing,  can  be  judged 
sf  by  others,  only  from  the  outward  Difcoveries  of 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

if.  One  Man  can't  look  into  the  Heart  of  ano 
ther  :  This  is  the  Prerogative  of  him  who  has 
faid,  f  /  am  he  that  fearcheth  the  Heart,  and  trietb 
the  Reins  of  the  Children  of  Men.  If  therefore  we 
would  judge  of  the  interior  State  of  others,  we  mud 
do  it  from  fome  external  Manifestations  of  it. 

Men  may  open  to  us  the  Temper  of  their 
Minds,  in  a  Relation  of  their  Experiences  :  But 
even  here,  we  are  liable  to  be  deceived.  They 
may  be  miflaken  about  their  own  State  ;  and 
what  is  worfe,  may  reprefent  Things  different 
from  what  they  really  are :  fo  that  at  the  heft  we 
only  judge  in  this  Cafe  upon  Suppofition.  And 
as  there  is  fo  much  Hypocrify  in  the  World,  it 
would  be  but  Prudence  to  hear  Men's  Declarati 
ons,  refpefting  themfelves  with  a  heedful  Caution. 
It  may  perhaps  be  a  Truth  here,  as  well  as  in  other 
Cafes,  Actions  fpeak  much  louder  than  Words. 

And  this  therefore  is  another  Way,  in  which 
Men  may  difclofe  what  is  within  them  ;  and  'tis 
the  great  Gofpel  Rule  by  which  we  are  to  govern 
our  practical  Sentiments  one  of  another.  Says  our 
SAVIOUR,  *  By  their  Fruits  ye  fball  know  them?  Do 
Me-n  gather  Grapes  of  Thorns?  Or  Figs  of  Thiftles? 
Even,  fo  every  good  Tree  bringeth  forth  good  Fruit : 
but  a  corrupt  Tree  bringeth  forth  evil  Fruit.  A  good 
Tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  Fruit  ;  neither  can  a  cor 
rupt  Tree  bring  forth  good  Fruit.  Agreeable  whereto 
are  thofe  Words,  \.  Either  make  the  Tree  good,  and 
his  Fruit  good ;  or  elfe  make  the  Tree  corrupt,  and 
the  Fruit  corrupt :  For  the  Tree  is  known  by  his  Fruit. 

f  Rev.  3.  23.     *  Matth.  7.  16,  17,  ig,     |  Mattk. 

I2<33>35- 

B  4  —  J 


§  INTRODUCTION, 

-~  A  good  Man,  out  of  the  good  Treafure  of  his  Heart, 
Jmngeth  forth  good  Things  ;  and  an  evil  Man,  out  of  the 
pull  Treafure,  bnngeth  forth  evil  Things.  'Tis  true, 
this  is  not  an  infallible  Rule ;  nor  did  our  SAVIOUR 
ever  intend  to  give  us  one :  This  would  anticipate 
the  loft  Judgment,  or  render  it  needlefs ',  for  Men's 
Stages  would  be  known  beforehand. 

It  may  be  further  noted,  this  Work  of  GOD  Is 
fhe  fame  at  all  Times,  and  in  all  Places. 

1  mean  not  that  the  Inftruments,  Means,  or  Man 
ner,  of  it's  Produftion,  are  always  alike.  There 
has  commonly  been  a  great  Diverjity  here,  as  feem- 
ed  befl  to  the  Wifdom  of  GOD. 

Sometimes,  he  has  taken  the  Work  very  much 
into  his  own  Hands,  and  fometimes  he  has  made  ufe 
of  Inftruments  :  And  when  this  has  been  the  Cafe., 
the  Inftruments  he  has  chofen,  have  fometimes  been 
more  adapted  to  fuch  a  Defign,  and  fometimes  lefs 
fo.  i.  e.  to  the  Eye  Man's  of  Wifdom  ;  for  in 
themfelves,  they  have  always  been  the  beft,  and 
were  we  able  to  fee  clearly  into  theReafons  of  Pro 
vidence,  we  mould  perceive  them  to  be  fo :  To  be 
fure,  they  are^never  fuch  as  are  in  their  own  Nature 
Unfit  to  be  made  ufe  of. 

There  has  likewife  ordinarily  been  a  Variety  as 
to  the  Means.  Sometimes  it  has  pleafed  GOD  to 
make  Ufe  of  one  Means,  and  fometimes  of  ano 
ther  ;  fometimes  the  Means  have  been  wonderful 
and  extraordinary,  as  in  the  Days  of  MOSES  and 
of"  CHRIST  ;  and  fometimes  they  have  been  of  a 
more  common  Nature  :  And  fometimes  He  may 
have  accompliihed  the  Work  without  any  Means 
at  all. 

And 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

And  alike  various  has  been  the  Manner ,  in  which 
GOD  has  wrought  upon  the  Minds  of  Sin 
ners.  Sometimes  it  has  been  in  a  Way  pf 
great  Terror,  and  fometimes  in  the  Methods  of 
Mildnefs  and  Gentlenefs.  Sometimes  he  has  dealt 
fo  with  them,  that  they  could  not  but  have  a  clear 
and  diftmtt  Perception  of  his  Operations  in  them ;  and 
fometimes  he  has  formed  them  into  a  new  Work 
man/hip,  in  a  more  infenfible,  and  variouily  inter 
rupted  Way. 

Neither  do  I  mean,  that  this  Work  of  GOD  is  the 
fame  in  its  Strength  and  Beauty  in  all  ;  or  that  'tis 
always  wrought  in  the  like  Number  of  Inflances, 
either  in  one  Place,  or  another.  There  has  always 
been  an  admirable  Diverjity  in  this  RefpecT;  /  Some 
have  been  made  to  partake  of  the  divine  Nature  in 
one  Degree,  others  in  another  ;  fometimes  a 
greater  Number  have  appeared  living  Images  of 
their  Father  in  Heaven,  fometimes  a  lefs. 

But  as  to  the  Work,  for  Subflance,  'tis  the  fame 
in  all  Places,  and  among  all  People  under  Heaven. 
There  may  be  a  Variety  as  to  the  Circumftances, 
Degrees,  and  Appendages  of  it  ,•  but  for  the  Thing 
it  felf,  as  to  it's  Effence^  'tis  the  very  fame  all  over 
the  World,*  has  beenfo  from  the  Days  of  CHRIST; 
yea,  from  the  Days  of  ADAM,  and  will  be  fo  to 
the  End  of  the  World.  Very  obfervable  to  our 
Purpofe  here,  are  the  Words  of  the  famous  Dr. 
OWEN.  Says  he,  *  «  Regeneration  by  the  HOLY 
**  SPIRIT  is  the  fame  Work  for  the  Kind  of  it,  and 
"  wrought  by  the  fame  Power  of  the  SPIRIT,  in 
«*  all  that  are  regenerate,  or  ever  were,  or  {hall 


*  Difcourfe  of  the  Holy  Spirit,?.  177,  178. 

**  be 


jo  INTRODUCTION. 

€(  be  fo,  from  the  Beginning  of  the  World  to  the 
€f  End  thereof.  Great  Variety  there  is  in  the  Ap- 
**  plication  of  the  outward  Means ;  —  nor  can  the 
"  Ways  and  Manner  hereof  be  reduced  unto  any 
€C  certain  Order.  For  the  SPIRIT  worketh  how, 
€f  and  when  he  pleafeth,  following  the  fole  Rule 
*f  of  his  own  Will  and  Wifdom.  Moftly,  GOD 
*e  makes  Ufe  of  the  preaching  of  the  Word  ;  thence 
cc  called  an  engrafted  Word  which  is  able  to  fave  our 
"  Souls :  Sometimes  'tis  wrought  without  it,  as  in 
<c  all  thofe  who  are  regenerate  before  they  come  to 
*c  the  Ufe  of  Reafon,  or  in  their  Infancy  ;  Some- 
Cf  times  Men  are  called,  and  fo  regenerate  in  an 
€(  extraordinary  Manner,  as  was  PAUL  ;  but  moftly 
«f  they  are  fo,in  and  by  the  Ufe  of  ordinary  Means, 
"  inftituted  and  fanftified  of  GOD  to  that  Pur- 
"  pofe.  And  great  Variety  there  is  in  the  Percep- 
<(  tion  and  Under/landing  of  the  Work  it  felf,  in 
<c  them  in  whom  it  is  wrought.  For  in  it  felf  it 
cc  is  fecret  and  hidden,  and  no  otherwife  difcovera- 
"  ble  than  in  it's  Caufes  and  Effetts,  John  3.  8.— 
*€  And  there  is  a  great  Variety  in  carrying  on  this 
€<  Work  towards  Perfe6lion,  in  the  Growth  of  the 
€<  new  Creature,  or  the  Increafe  of  Grace  implan- 
"  ted  in  our  Natures  by  iti  For  fome,  thro'  the 
c*  Supplies  of  the  SPIRIT,  make  a  great  and  fpeedy 
tt  Progrefs  towards  Perfe6lion ;  others  thrive  flow- 
"  ly,  and  bring  forth  little  Fruit,  the  Caufe  and 
ff  Occafions  whereof  are  not  here  to  be  enume- 
46  rated.  But  notwithftanding  all  Differences  in 
<c  previous  Difpojitions,  in  the  Application  of  outward 
i€  Means,  in  the  Manner  of  it  ordinary  or  extraor- 
'*  dinary,  in  the  Consequents  of  much  or  lefs  Fruit, 
ff  the  Work  it  felf,  in  its  own  Nature^  is  of  tha 
'5  fane  Kind,  one  and  the  fame." 


INTRODUCTION.          it 

It  may  be  again  remarkt,  The  Appearance  of 
this  Work  of  GOD,  as  well  as  the  Work  it  felf,  is 
always  the  fame.  What  I  intend  is,  that  the  Ap- 
pearance  is  ever  of  a  like  Kind  and  Nature.  As 
the  Inftruments,  Means,  Circumftanccs  and  Appen* 
dages  of  the/For£  may  be  different,  fo  will  be  the 
Appearance  as  to  thefe  Things  :  And  as  the  Work 
it  felf  may  be  more  or  lefs  perfect,  in  this  or  the 
other  Place,  at  this  or  the  other  lime,  fo  will  be 
the  Appearance  more  or  lefs  glorious.  It  will  bear 
an  exaft  Proportion  to  the  greater  or  lefs  Degree  of 
the  Work  it  felf :  So  it  always  has  been,  fo  it  is 
now,  and  fo  it  ever  will  be  to  the  End  of  Time, 
in  all  Parts  of  the  Earth  :  Which  leads  me,  to 
what  I  have  principally  in  View  here, 

• 

In  the  laft  Place,  to  defcribe  the  Appearance  of 
this  Work  of  GOD.  And  in  doing  of  this,  I  mall 
confine  my  felf  to  the  Scripture,  as  the  fur  eft  Guide 9 
as  well  as  only  Rule.  And  the  Text s,  defcriptive  of 
This  Work  of  GOD,  and  the  Appearance  it  will 
make,  are  fo  numerous,  and  expreflive,  that  there 
can  be  no  reafonable  Ground  for  Debate  upon  the 
Matter. 

There  are  feveral  Prophefies  in  the  Qld-Tefta* 
went,  which  look  beyond  the  then  prefent  Day  to 
the  Times  of  the  MESSIAH,  and  plainly  point  out 
the  Appearance  this  Work  of  GOD  will  make  in  the 
World.  Such  an  one  is  that,  4.  where  it  is  pro- 
mifed  in  thefe  Words,  I  mil  four  upon  the  Houfe 
cf  DAVID,  and  upon  the  Inhabitants  of  JERUSALEM, 
the  Spirit  of  Grace  and  of  Supplication  ;  and  they  ftall 
look  upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced,  and  they  /hall 


4.  Zecb,  12.  10. 

mourn 


I*  INTRODUCTION, 

mourn  for  him,  as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  Son ;  and 
fhall  be  in  Bitternefs  for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  Bitter- 
nefs  for  his  firfl-Born.     I  here  take  that  for  gran 
ted,  which  is  fuppofed  by  the  Generality  of  Expo* 
Jitors  to  be  the  Truth,  that  thefe  Words  look  for 
ward  to  the  Days  of  CHRIST,  and  foretell  the  out 
pouring  of  the  SPIRIT,  in  a  marvellous  Work  of  Grace. 
Whether  they  refer  more  immediately  to  the  yews, 
and  were  fulfill'd  in  the  firfl  Times  of  the  Gofpel  ; 
particularly,  when  three  Tboufand,  who  had  been 
confenting  to  the  Crucifixion  of  CHRIST,  were,  upon 
PETER'S  Sermony  tricked  in  the  Heart:   or  concern 
Sinners  in  general  under  the  GofpebDifpenfation,  I 
difpute  not.     In  which  ever  Senfe  the  Words  are 
underftood,  the  Effeft  or  Appearance  of  this  Work 
of  Grace  (which  is  alii  now  aim  at)  is  the  fame  ; 
viz.   a  great  and  bitter  Mourning  for  Sin,  fuch  a 
^Mourning  as  Parents  are  fubjec~t  to  upon  the  Death 
of  an  only  Son,  or  firfl-born.      But  then,  you  ob- 
ferve  the  Rife  of  this  Sorrow  and  Lamentation. 
It  flows  from  a  Look  to  that  SAVIOUR,  whom  by  Sin 
we  have  pierced  ;    and  not  from  a  Dread  of  Wrath 
and  Hell.     There  is,  'tis  true,  a  Sorrow  for  Sin 
which  may  be  excited  from  a  Fear  of  Punifhment ; 
and  this  is  commonly  the  firfl  Kind  of  Sorrow, 
and  it  has  its  Ufe  in  Religion  :     But  its  no  Sign 
of  a  truly  penitent  Heart,  whatever  Strefs  Sinners 
may  be  difpos'd  to  lay  upon  it  ;     Nor  is  it  the 
Mourning  for  Sin  here  prophefied  of.     This  is  a  Sor 
row  taking   Rife  from  Faith   in  CHRIST,   and  a 
View  of  Sin  as  occafioning  thofe  Sufferings,  HE 
underwent  to  make  Atonement  for  it.     And  'tis  no 
Wonder  if  the  Sorrow,  which  has  fuch  a  Rife,  is 
.great  like  to  that  for  a  Firfl-Born.     For  there  is 
nothing  ;   no,  not  the  Torments  of  Hell  itfelf,  that 
will  fo  effe&ually  move  and  melt  the  Heart,  as  a 
Sight  of  CHRIST^  in  his  bitter  Sufferings* 

KM 


INTRODUCTION  13 

and  dying  slgonies,  for  our  Sins*  This,  if  any 
Thing,  will  open  the  Springs  of  Grief,  and  over 
whelm  our  Souls  with  Sorrow  at  the  Remembrance 
of  our  Tranfgrefllons. 

And  this,  let  me  add,  is  the  only  Sorrow  for 
Sin,  that  is  a  Fruit  of  Grace,  and  evidential  of  a 
faving  Work  of  the  SPIRIT  upon  the  Sinner's  Heart. 
An  Eye  to  CHRIST  is  the  only  Gofpel-Ground  of  a 
Gofpel-Repentance.  The  Curfe  of  the  Law,  and  the 
Wrath  of  God,  may  alarm  Confcience,  and  diftraft 
the  Sinner  almoft  with  Anguiih  and  Terror  ;  but 
all.  will  be  to  no  Purpofe,  unlefs  CHRIST  comes  into 
Confideration,  and  a  believing  Look  to  him  gives 
Spring  to  the  Sorrow.  This  is  the  Life  of  true 
Repentance :  Without  a  View  to  CHRIST,  'tis  but 
as  a  dead  Carcafs. 

The  out-pouring  of  the  SPIRIT  is  again  fpokefc 
of  *,  where  GOD  promifes  to  give  to  his  People  a 
new  Heart,  and  to  put  his  SPIRIT  within  them.-  And 
what  is  the  Effect,  the  vifible  Appearance  ?  It  fol 
lows  in  the  next  Words,  f  Ye  /hall  walk  in  my  Sta 
tutes,  and  ye  /hall  keep  my  Judgments  and  do  them* 
This  is  more  fully  expreft  in  the  next  Chapter,  -jh 
23,  24.  Neither  /hall  they  defile  them/elves  any  mort 
with  their  Idols,  nor  with  their  detejtable  Things, 
nor  with  any  of  their  Tranfgrejfions : —  They /hall 
alfo  walk  in  my  judgments,  and  obferve  my  Statutes 9 
and  do  them. 

Another  Prophefic,   wherein  the  out-pouring 
the  SPIRIT,  in  a  Work  of  Grace,  is  fpoken  o 
with  a  more  particular  Account  of  the  Appearance 


Ezek,  3(5.  29.    f  f-  2i> 

It 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

it  will  make,  we  have  in  Ifa.  32.  15,  16,  17.  Un 
til  the  SPIRIT  be  poured  out  upon  us  from  on  high, 
and  the  Wildernefs  be  a  fruitful  Field,  and  the  fruit 
ful  Field  be  counted  for  a  For  eft.  Then  Judgment  /hall 
dwell  in  the  Wildernefs,  and  Right  eoufnefe  remain  in 
the  fruitful  Field.     And  the  Work  of  Right  eoufnefs 
fhall  be  Peace,  and  the  Effett  of  Right  eoufnefs,  Quietnefs 
and  dffurance  for  ever.     We  have  here  an  Account, 
not  only  of  a  Work  of  Grace,  but  its  Appearance,  the 
Effeft  that  will  be  produced  by  it.     The  Wildernefs 
/ball  become  a  fruitful  Field,  i.  e.  *  "  Thefe  who  have 
"  been  as   a   Wildernefs^  barren   and  unfruitful, 
€f  bringing  forth  no  Fruit  to  GOD,  but  wild  Fruits 
"  of  Sin,  fliall  be  changed,  tilled,  converted,  and 
"  made  fruitful,  to  bring  forth  Fruits  of  Holinefs 
"  to  GOD,     And  the  fruitful  Field  {hall  be  counted 
"  for  a  Forefl.  i.  e.  They  that  have  a  Principle  of 
€C  Fruitfulnefs  in  them,  and  did  bring  forth  Fruit 
"  before,  yet  now,  upon  the  pouring  out  of  the  SPI- 
"  KIT  upon  them,  (hall  receive  fuch  Abundance  of 
*f  Grace,  and  be  fo  eminent  in  the  acting  of  it, 
"  that  what  they  did  before  fliall  be  accounted, 
«  as  the  Fruit  of  a  barren  Forefl,  in  Comparifon 
cc  of  what  they  do  now.     Or  the  Meaning  may 
*(  be,  Thofe  that  were  before  fruitful  Fields  fliall, 
"  upon  the  -pouring  out  of  the  SPIRIT,  fruftify  fo 
"  incredibly,  that  they  fliall  feem  rather  to  be  a 
«  Wood,  a  Forreft,  a  Thicket,  than  a  Field  of  Tillage 
*(  (by  an  Appropiation  of  fuch  Exprefllons  as  are 

"  fometimes 


*  I  have  parapbrafed  this  Text,  in  the  Words  of  one  of 
t^  Fathers  of  this  Country,  the  Rev.  Mr.  ADAMS  of 
DEDHAM  j  which  I  the  more  readily  chofe  to  do,  be- 
caufelfind,  in  the  Preface, to  his  Sermon,  an  excellent 
Charader  given  of  him,  for  his  Piety  as  well  as  Learn 
ing*  by  thofe  two  Lights  in  our  Cburcfos,  the  famous 
Mr,  TORRY  and  Mr,  FLYNT. 


INTRODUCTION.          15 

€e  fometimes  ufed  concerning  the  incredible  Fer- 
"  tility  of  fome  Fields  in  Grain  and  Fruits,  unto 
ff  the  exceeding  Fruitfulnefs  of  Perfons  in  Grace, 
"  and  fpiritual  and  holy  Attions}:  And  fo  the  Senfe 
t(  is  the  fame  as  before,  f  Then  Judgment  /ball 
ff  dwell  in  the  Wildernefs.  i.  e.  Thofe  who  were  as 
"  a  Wildernefs  before,  untilled,  untaught,  unre- 
€f  generate,  and  unfubdued  to  the  Will  of  GOD, 
€<  being  now  converted,  (hall  give  Heed  to  Judg- 
€e  ment,  Equity,  Righteoufnefs,  Honefty  and  Pi* 
<f  ety  ;  abandoning  all  Ways  of  Prophanenefs, 
"  Debauchery,  Diihonefty,  Injuftice,  Intempe- 
"  ranee,  and  Impiety,  which  once  they  lived  in. 
"  And  Righteoufnefs  remain  in  the  fruitful  Field. 
"  i.  e.  Chriftians,  Profeflbrs,  who  have  given 
C(  up  their  Names  to  CHRIST,  fhall  be  ftudioufly 
ff  careful,  to  hold  faft  Righteoufnefs,  Sincerity 
"  and  Uprightnefs  in  all  their  Carriages  towards 
"  GOD  and  Man  ;  being  plain-hearted,  right- 
"  down  fair  and  fquare  in  all  their  Dealings,  be- 
"  having  themfelves  in  all  Things  holily,  juftly 
€f  and  unblameably  ;  being  harmlefs,  and  with- 
ff  out  Rebuke  :  JPutting  away  all  Semblance  of 
«  Difhonefty,  unjuft  Dealing,  Unfaithfulnefs^ 
*f  Untruth,  Encroaching,  Covetoufnefs,  Double- 
«  Dealing,  Ui^fteadinefs,  Shuffling,  Winding^  Tur- 
"  ning,  and  whatfoever  elfe  is  unworthy  the  Vo- 
' f  'cation  wherewith  they  are  called.  And  thefe 
ff  fure  are  happy  and  blefled  Times,  when  there 
f(  are  fuch  Fruits  of  Sanftification,  fo  generally  and 
f(  univerfally  appearing.  And  the  Work  of  Righte- 
"  oufnefs  /hall  be  Peace  ;  and  the  Effett  of  Righte- 
"  oufnefi,  Quietnefs,  and  AJJurance  forever.  There 

«  (hall 


f  Vid.  Englifh  Annot.  in  Jfai,  25,  17,    And  Calvin 
in  Pol.  Synop.  Crit.  ibid. 


id          INTRODUCTION. 

<e  (hall  be  Peace  with  GOD)  and  the  Teftimony 
4C  of  that  Peace  in  their  Confciences  ;  whence  an 
"  hqly  Serenity  and  Calmnefs  of  Soul,  the  Peace 
€<  of  GOD  which  pafleth  all  Underflanding,  keep-^ 
€ f  ing  their  Hearts  and  Minds  thro'  JESUS  CHRIST  ; 
fc  a  religious  Compofure  of  Mind,  reding  quietly 
(f  upon  GOD  alone,  and  depending  on  him  with 
€f  confident  AfTurance  of  Mercy,  Prote&ion  (  and 
*'  all  Good)  from  him** 


The  Appearance  of  this  Work  of  GOZ),  is  again 
particularly  defcribed  in  that  Prophecy,  referring 
to  the  Times  of  CHRIST,  Ifai.  n.  <5,  7,  8,  9.  The 
Wolf  alfo  fhall  dwell  with  the  Lamb,  and  the  Leopard 
fhall  lie  down  with  the  Kid  :  and  the  Calf,  and  the 
young  Lion,  and  the  Falling  together,  and  a  little  Child 
fhall  lead  them.  And  the  Cow  and  the  Bear  fhall  feed, 
their  young  ones  fhall  lie  down  together  :  and  the  Lion 
fhall  eat  Straw  like  the  Ox.  And  the  fucking  Child 
fhall  -play  on  the  Hole  of  the  Afp,  and  the  weaned  Child 
fliall  put  his  Hand  on  the  Cockatrice-den.  They  fhall 
not  hurt,  nor  deftroy  in  all  my  holy  Mountain :  for  the 
Earth  fhall  he  full  of  the  Knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as 
the  Waters  cover  the  Sea.  The  Meaning  of 
which  Words,  according  to  the  Senfe  of  almoffc 
all  Expofitors,  ftripped  of  Metaphor,  and  put  in 
to  plain  Engliih,  is  obvioufly  this,  That  in  the 
Times  of  the  Gofpel,  when  Men  are  effectually 
wrought  upon  by  divine  Grace^  the  Roughnefs  of 
their  Temper  {hall  be  fmoothed,  their  Paffions  re- 
ftrained  and  brought  into  Order,  fo  that  they  (hall 
live  together  in  Love  and  Peace,  doing  to  each 
other  all-  the  Offices,  not  only  of  Humanity,  but- 
of  Chriltian  Kindnefs  and  Charity.  Such  Perfons 


f  Eng.  4nnQti  in 


INTRODUCTION.         17 

as  were  once  ravenous  in  their  Difpofition,  fliould 
undergo  a  Transformation^  as  if  a  Wolf  (hould 
change  his  Nature,  and  of  Savage  become  gencleS 
fo  as  to  feed  'with  Lambs,  ;  or  as  if  the  Leopard 
ihould  quit  his  Piercenefs,  and  lie  down  with  the 
Kids  :  Arid  fuch  as  were  once  angry  and  ttchyt 
fhould  pafs  through  an  Alteration,  as  if  the  Afp 
fhould  lofe  its  foriorn)  and  fiiffer  a  Child  to  play  about 
its  Hole*  There  fliould,  in  a  Word^  be  no  more 
biting>  oppofing  and  devouring  one  another;  But 
this  Change  in  Men  would  make  them  mild  and 
gentle  ;  difpoflng  them  to  behave  towards  each 
other  with  all  Tendernefs>  loving  one  another  as 
themfelves. 

But  the  beft  Idea  of  the  Appear  am  e  of  this  Work 
of  GOD  is  to  be  fetched  from  the  New-Teftamentj 
where  the  Texts  defcriptive  of  it,  are  fhll  more 
clear  and  exprefs, 

Only,  before  I  proceed,  I  mall  make  one  Re 
mark  :  It  is  this  ,•  That  there  is  a  two-fold  Work 
of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  fpoken  of  in  Scripture:  The 
one  refpe6ls  his  extraordinary  and  miraculous  Gifts 
and  Powers  ;  the  other^  his  common  and  ordinary  In- 
fluence>  that  by  which  a  Work  of  Grace  is  begun 
and  carried  on  in  the  Souls  of  Men,  to  their  bfeing 
prepared  in  this  World,  for  Glory  and  Honour  in 
the  better  World  that  is  to  come.  Some  Texts* 
when  they  fpeak  of  the  Work  of  the  SPIRIT;  may 
include  both  his  ordinary  and  extraordinary  Work; 
and  fome  may  more  efpecially  mean  the  former  * 
and  others  the  latter.  But  however  this  be,  a  Di- 
ftinftion  otight  always  to  be  made  between  thefe 
of  the  SPIRIT, 


And  let  it  be  carefully  remembred,when  the  Work 
of  the  SPIRIT,  in  the  extraordinary  Senfe,  is  the 

G  Thing: 


18          INTRODUCTION. 

Thing  intended,  the  Effeft  hereof,  or  its 
ance,  whether  in  Prophefyings,  Vijions,  Revelations, 
Signs,  Wonders,  or  any  other  Jtrange  and  .miracu 
lous  Events,  is  not  the  Appearance  to  be  looked  for, 
from  the  ordinary  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT,  i.  e.  his 
faving  Work  upon  the  Souls  of  Men  :  Nor  can  ic 
be  collected  from  all  the  miraculous  Gifts  and  Pow 
ers  that  any  were  the  Subjects  of,  when  the  SPI 
RIT  was  poured  forth  in  the  Days  of  the  Apoftles, 
that  they   were  among   the   Sanctified  in   CHRIST 
JESUS.     Some,  who  were  then  the  Subjects  of  a 
Work  of  Grace,  were,  no  Doubt,  endowed  with  the 
extraordinary  Gifts  of  the#OLT  GHOST',  but  their 
extraordinary  Endowments  were  no  Proof  of  their 
having  wrought  in  them  an  effectual  Work  of  Grace. 
Says    the    celebrated  Dr.   OWEN,  *     ff   Thofe 
"  who  were  miraculoujly  converted,  as  PAUL  ;  or, 
((  who  upon  their  Converfion  had  miraculous  Gifts 
"  beftowed  upon  them,  as  had  Multitudes  of  the 
f.  primitive  Chriftians,  were  no  otherwife  regene- 
(f  rate,  nor  by  any  other  internal  Efficiency  of  the 
"  Holy  SPIRIT,  then  every  one  is  at  this  Day, 
"  who  is  really  made  Partaker  of  this  Grace  and 
'*  Privilege  :     Neither  were  thofe  miraculous  O- 
"  perations  of  the  Holy  SPIRIT,  which  were  vi- 
66  fible  unto  others,  any  Pan  of  the  Work  of  Re- 
"  generation  ,•     nor  did  they  belong  neceflkrily 
fc  to  it  :     For  many  were  the  Subje&s  of  them, 
"  and  received   miraculous   Gifts  by   them,  who 
"  were  never  regenerate  ;   and  many  were  rege- 
tf  nerate,  who  were  never  Partakers  of  them  I" 

It's  probable,  we  fhould  generally  be  difpos'd, 
at  once,  to  look  upon  a  Man  as  the  Subject  of  a 


Difcourfe  of  the  SPIRIT.  Page  178. 

Work 


ff 


fi 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

Work  of  GOD's  Grace,  if  he  was  endow'd  with 
extraordinary  Gifts ;  if>  to  all  Appearance,  he  had  the 
S fir  it  of  Prophecy )  the  Gift  of  Tongues,  the  Gift  of  Heal* 
ing,  and  had  Faith  fo  that  he  could  do  Miracles :  But 
a  Thoufand  of  thefe  Gifts,  confidered  fimply  in 
themfelves,  are  no  Argument  of  a  regenerate  State. 
The  lead  Spark  of  true  CHRISTIAN  CHARITY  is  a 
better  Evidence  of  a  Work  of  GOD  in  the  Soul, 
than  the  greateft  Ability  to  /hew  Signs,  and  work 
Wonders.  The  learned  Dr.  HICKS  has  exprefs'd 
himfelf  upon  the  facing  and  miraculous  Gifts  of  the 
SPIRIT,  in  a  Manner  well  worth  tranfcribing  *. 
As  for  thefe  (  the  miraculous  Gifts  )  they  nei- 
ther  fuppofed  any  faving  Change  in  the  gifted 
Perfon,  nor  neceffarily  brought  any  along  with 
"  them,  nor  drew  any  after  them*  But  as 
€€  St.  CHRYSOSTOM  compares  them  to  Riches,  fo 
"  like  Riches  they  tempted  Men  to  Pride,  Vani* 
({  ty  and  Contempt  of  their  Governors,  as  alfo 

€f  to  envy  and  hate  one  another  ; Nay,  fo  in- 

ef  confiderable  are  thefe  Gifts  for  themfelves,  and 
€C  fo  unprofitable  to  any  Chriftian,  as  to  his  main 
€f  Concern,  that  like  the  Sun  and  Rain  they  were 
"  given  to  good  and  bad.-—  The  Tongues  of  Men 
(f  or  Angels,  to  fpeak  in  the  dpoftles  Words, 
"  could  have  faid  nothing  more  plain  or  empha- 
"  deal  [than  what  he  has  faid  in  the  i  Cor.  13. 
(<  beg.]  to  fhew  how  much  more  excellent  the 
"  faving  Graces  of  the  SPIRIT  are,  than  the  infufed 
*'  miraculous  Gifts,  which  can  neither  render  us 
"  like  GOD,  nor  qualify  us  for  the  Enjoyment 
*•  of  him  ,•  and  which  Things  have  no  intrinfical 
€  worth  to  the  Perfons  who  formerly  had  them, 
*(  nor  made  them  more  ufeful  for  the  Church, 


*  See  his  Entbujiafm  exorcifed.  from  the  54th  to 
the  jpth  Page.  C  2  than 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

r  than  acquired  Gifts,  which  are  the  ordinary 
"  Means  of  Faith  and  Repentance,  make  us. 
sf  Suppofe  thou  knoweft  the  Gofpel,  like  the  Apo- 
"  flies,  by  Infpiration  ;  What  then  ?  Another 
"  Minifter,  who  knows  it  by  Reading  and  Study,  is 
"  as  capable,  by  the  Bleffing  of  GOD,  to  ferve 
"  the  Church  as  thou  :  And  befides,  if  thou  art 
<(  like  a  vain  Corinthian,  ambitious  of  Infpiration, 
"  know  that  it  will  add  nothing  to  the  Reputa- 
"  tion  of  thy  Parts  ;  for  an  infpired  Man  is  but 
cf  the  Veffel  to  the  Treafure,  the  very  Inftrument 
"  and  Machine  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,  who  can  or- 
"  dain  Strength  out  of  the  Mouth  of  Babes  and 
€f  Sucklings,  and  make  a  Child,  or  an  Idiot,  if 
<f  he  pleafe,  preach  as  well  as  thee.  Or, 
(€  fuppofe  thou  hadft  the  Spirit  of  Prediction.} 
"  what  then  ?  The  Knowledge  of  Things 
"  paft  being  as  excellent  in  its  felf,  and 
"  generally  more  ufeful  to  the  World,  than 
"  the  Knowledge  of  Things  to  come,  the  Hiftorian 
'*  would  then  have  as  much  to  boafl  of  as  thou? 
"  —  But  if  thou  couldefl  do  Miracles  ;  what  if 
"  thou  couldefl  ?  Hereticks  and  Magicians  have 
"  done  them,  and  JUDAS  did  them  ;  and  many 
"  {hall  fay  to  me  in  that  Day,  LORD,  LORD,  have 
*'  we  not  prophejied  in  thy  Name,  and  in  thy  Name 
<f  cafl  out  D evils 9  and  in  thy  Name  done  many  won 
't  dcrful  Works  ?  Then  will  I  fay  unto  them,  1  know 
*<  you  not  :  Depart  from  me  ye  Workers  of  Iniquity. 
ff  But  thou  art  aMinifler,  and  wouldft  fain  preach 
"by  Infpiration  ;  why  fo  ?  Not  out  of  Corinthian 
<f  Vanity  and  Oflentation ;  for  then  thou  art  a  vain- 
"  glorious  Man;  but  becaufe  thou  haft  a^Defire  to 
"  convert  Souls :  But  alas,  thou  art  not  fure  of  that, 
f(  for  the  Words  of  the  infpired  PAUL  were  aStum- 
<(  bling-Block  to  the  Jews,  and  a  Scandal  to  the 
tf  Greeks,  even  the  Savour  of  Death  to  many 
'*  who  heard  him.  And  the  Souls  of  Thoufands 

"  who 


INTRODUCTION.          21 

(€  who  heard  infpired  Sermons,   from  CHRIST  and 
"  his  Apoftles,  and  faw  them  alfo  work  Miracles, 
€f  lie  roaring  now  in  the  Flames  of  Hell.     But  to 
(f  pray  by  the  SPIRIT  is  a  moil  defireable  Gifc  ; 
f(  But  thou  canft  cry  Abba  Father,  without  Infpi- 
*f  ration  ;  and  thou  mayft  make  Prayers  and  Sup- 
"  plications,   and    Interccffions,    and    giving  of 
«  Thanks  for  all  Men  without  Infpiration:  Which 
"  if  thou  hadft,  would   not  make   thy   Prayers 
ff  more  excellent  in  themfelves,  or  more  accepta- 
"  ble  in    the  Sight   of  GOD  :     For  whofoever 
(f  hath  a  devout  Soul,  and  approaches  GOD  with 
ft  that  Reverence   which  is   due   to   his  infinite 
"  Majefty,and  heartily  asks  what  he  would  obtain, 
*<  in  the  Name  of  CHRIST  his  dear  Son9  (hall  pre 
€e  vail    as    much  as  if  it  were    infpired. 
"  From  all  which  it  appears  how  much  more  ex> 
"  cellent  and  defireable  the  faving  Graces  of  the 
<c  SPIRIT  are,  than  all  thefe  pompous  miraculous  Gifts: 
f<  In  which  there  is  really  no  intrinfical  excellence, 
€f  —All  which  I  would  have  thofe  efpecially  to 
€f  conflder  whofe  enthufiafli^al  Tempers,  or  Educa- 
(<  tion,  incline  them  firft  to  admire,  and  then  to 
"  conceit  thefe  miraculous  Gifts,  till  by  infenflble 
(f  Degrees  they  impofe  upon  their  own  Imaginatir 
f6  ons,  and  commence  within  themfelves  illuii^ina,- 
«  ted  Men.  J 

But  having  made  this  Remark,  or  Digrejfion,  if 
any  ihould  chufe  to  call  it  fo,  I  now  come  to 
mention  the  A7<?-zu  Teftament  Texts,  which  defcribe 
to  us  the  Appearance  of  this  Work  of  GOD, 

And  the  Deftruftion  of  the  Prevalence  of  Sin,  and 

Vicey  they  always  reprefent    as  one  of  the  curtain 

Charafterifticks  of  this  Work.    The  Paflages  to  this 

Purpofe  are  many,  and  the  Language  of  them 

C  various. 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

various  and  fignificative  :     f  How  ft<M  w  that  are 
Dead  to  Sin,  live  any  longer  therein  ?  And  a  little 
onwards,  §  Knowing  this  that  our  old  Man  is  cruel* 
fied  with  him,  (CHRIST)  that  the  Body  of  Sin  might 
be  deftroyed,  that  henceforth  we  fhould  not  ferve  Sin: 
For  he  that  is  Dead  to  Sin,  is  freed  from  Sin.     And 
the  Apoftle  fpeaking  of  thofe  who  are  in  CHRIST 
JESUS,  and  to  whom  there  is  no  Condemnation,  gives 
that  as  their  Charafter,  f  who  walk  not  after  the 
Flefb,  hut  after  the  Spirit:  The  juft  Import  of  which 
Charafter  may  be  learned  from  that  Defcription 
of  this  fame  Apoftle,  *  Now  the  Works  of  the  Flefl 
are  mamfefl,  which  are  thefe,  Adultery  9  Fornication, 
Uncleannefs,    Lafcivioufnefs,    Idolatry,    Witchcraft^ 
Hatred,  Variance,  Emulations,  Wrath,   Strife,  Sedi 
tions,  Herejles,  Envyings,   Murders,     Drunkennefs9 
Revellings,  and  fuch  like  :    Of  which  I  tell  you  before, 
as  I  have  alfo   told  you   in  Time  paft,     that    they 
which  do  fuch  Things  /hall  not  inherit  the  Kingdom  of 
GOD.     Or,  from  that  Command  of  his,  j  Mortify 
therefore  your   Members  which  are  upon  the   Earth, 
Fornication,    Uncleannefs,    inordinate  Affeftion,    evil 
Concuplfcence,    and  Coveteoufnefs  which  is  Idolatry  ; 
for  which  Things  fake  cometh  the  Wrath  of  GOD  on 
the  Children  of  Dlfobedlence.     The  Apoflle  JOHN  is 
is  dill  more  peremptory   in  his  Language,  as  to 
this  Deftru&ion  of  the  Power  of  Sin,  where  there 
is  a  Work  of  Grace,^  If  we  fay  that  we  have  Fel 
low  fbip   with   him,  and  walk   in  Darknefs,   we  He9 
and  do  not  the   Truth.      And  again,   in   the  next 
Chapter  but  one,  **  ffibofoeber  abldeth  In  him  fin- 
ncth   not  ;    Whofoever  fmneth,   hath   not  feen  hlm9 
neither  known  hlv\     And  yet  again,  in  a  Verfe  or 
two  onwards,  Whofoever  is  born  of  GOD  doth  not 


.2.   §Rom.6.7. 
19,  20,  2  1.  |  Col.  3.5,6.  fijoh.i.6. 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

commit  Sin,  for  his  Seed  remaineth  in  him  ;  and 
he  cannot  fin,  beCaufe  be  is  born  of  GOD  :  Which 
fame  Thought  is  ftill  repeated,  f  We  know  that 
whofoever  is  born  of  GOD,  finneth  not  ;  but  he  that 
is  begotten  of  GOD  keepeth  himfelf^ ;  and  the  wicked 
One  toucheth  him  not.  The  Meaning  of  all  which 
Texts  is,  not  that  thofe  who  have  been  effectual ly 
wrought  upon  by  divine  Grace,  may,  in  no  Senfe, 
be  faid  to  commit  Sin  :  Such  an  Interpretation  of 
the  Words  can't  be  reconciled  with  thofe  Decla 
rations,  in  this  very  Epiftle,  wherein  it  is  affirmed, 
*  That  if  we  fay,  we  have  no  <$/';/,  we  deceive  our 
felves,  and  the  Truth  is  not  in  us.  And  again,  f  If 
we  fay  we  have  not  Jinned,  we  make  him  a  Liar, 
and  his  Word  is  not  in  us.  But  the  plain  Import 
of  them  is,  That  the  Frame  of  Mind,  in  thofe 
who  have  the  Work  of  GOD  wrought  in  them,  is 
fuch  as  renders  Sin  fo  odious  to  them,  that  thejy 
can't  entertain  the  Thought  of  committing  it,  or 
of  a  Temptation  to  do  fo,  but  with  Deteftation  ; 
nor  can  they  live  in  the  habitual  Pra&ice  of  it  ; 
And  if  they  fall  into  Sin,  especially  a  hainous  one,  'tis 
but  rarely,  and  then  thro"  Surprife,  or  the  Violence 
of  Temptation  :  And  when  they  come  to  confi- 
der,  they  condemn  themfelves,  repent  of  what 
they  have  done,  and  are  upon  their  Guard  parti 
cularly  againfl  this  Kind  of  Sin  for  the  Time  to 
come. 

If  any  would  know  what  the  Sins,  infpeciatzre, 
that  Men  will  not  live  in  the  Pra6tice  of,  when 
they  have  had  a  Work  of  GOD  begun  in  them  ; 
even  this  we  may  fairly  collecl:  from  fome  Texts 
of  Scripture.  "Tis  obfervablea  the  dpoftle  exhorts 


f  Chaf,  5,  *8.      *  Chap.  i.  8.   f  t-  10. 

C  4  the 


94  INTRODUCTION. 

fh e  Chriftians  at  COLOSS  *,  to  pwf  away  all  Thefe, 
Anger,  IVvcith,  Malice,  Blafphemyy  filthy  Communi- 
fation  out  of  their  Mouths ;  and  enjoins  it  on  them, 
pot  to  He  one  to  another:  And  that  is  the  Ground 
of  his  thus  cautioning  them,  Seeing  that  they  haqc 
put  off  the  OLD  MAN  with  his  Deeds,  and  have  put 
QU  the  NEW  MAN,  which  is  renewed  in  Knowledge  after 
the  Image  of  him  that  created  him.  Parallel  whereto 
is  that  of  this  fame  Apoftle,  in  his  Epifile  to  the 
EPHESIANS  ,•  where,  having  called  upon  them  to  be 
RENEWED  in  the  Spirit  of  their  Mind,  and  to  put  on 
the  NEW  MAN,  which  after  GOD  is  created  in  Righ- 
teoufnefs  and  true  HoHnefs,  he  goes  on  with  his 
Exhortation,  f  Wherefore  putting  aiyay  lyings/peak 
every  Man  Truth  with  his  Neighbour.— fie  angry ,  and 
fin  not  :  Let  not  the  Sun  go  down  upon  your  Wrath. 
Neither  give  Place  to  the  Qft$L  Let  him  that  ftole, 
jleal  no  more.  — -  Let  no  corrupt  Communication  fro- 
'ceed  out  of  your.  Mouth..  —  And  grieve  not  the  HOLT 
SPIRIT  of  GOD.—  Let  all  Bitternefs,  and  Wrath, 
and  Anger,  and  Clamour,  and  Evil-f peaking,  be  put 
from  you,  mtb  all  Malice. 


They  likewife  reprefent  the  Practice  of 
Right  eoufnefs  and  Hotincfs,  as  another  fure 
Charafterijlick  of  this  Work  of  GOD-  Know  ye 
'not  ( fays  the  Apojlle  **  )  that  to  whom  ye  yield 
your  felves  Servants  to  obey9  his  Servants  lye  are  to 
whom  ye  obey  ;  whethei'  of  Sin  unto  Death,  or 
or  of  Obedience  unto  Right  eoufnefs.  Being  made 
free  from  Sin,  ye  became  the  Servants  of  Righte- 
oufnefs.  And  again,  *  But  now,  being  made  free 
from  $iny  and  become.  Servants  to  GOD,  ye 

t  Col.  3.  8,  9,  10.    f  Eph.  iv.23-  and  onwards. 
J*  Rom.  6.  i<54  1 8,    *  Ver.  7, 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

lave  your  Fruit  unto  HoEnefs.  Very  exprefs 
to  the  like  Purpofe  are  the  Words  of  the 
Apoflle  JOHN  ft*  He  that  faith  I  know  him,  and 
keepeth  not  his  Commandments,  is  a  Liar,  and  the 
Truth  is  not  in  him.  But  whofo  keepeth  his  Word, 
in  him  verily  is  the  Word  of  GOD  perfected:  Here 
by  know  we  that  we  are  in  him :  He  that  faith,  he 
abideth  in  him,  ought  himfelf  alfo  to  walk,  even  as  he 
walked.  And  in  the  lafl  Verfe  of  this  fame  Chap 
ter,  If  ye  blow  that  he  is  righteous,  ye  know  that 
every  one  that  doth  Righteoufnefs  is  born  of  him.  So 
in  the  next  Chapter  *,  Little  Children,  let  no  Man 
deceive  you  ;  he  that  doth  Righteoufnefs  is  righteous, 
even  as  he  is  righteous.  And  in  the  loth  if.  In  this 
the  Children  of  GOD  are  manifejl,  and  the  Children  of 
the  Devil:  Whofoever  doth  not  Righteoufnefs  is  not  of 
GOD. 

And  the  Scripture  is  very  clear  as  to  the  Particu 
lars  of  this  Righteoufnefs  or  Holinefs,  as  they  will 
appear  in  thofe,  in  whom  there  is  a  Work  of  Grace. 
TheApoftle  has  enumerated  fat  Fruits  of  the  SPIRIT. 
i,  e.  the  yifible,  as  well  as  internal  Effefts  of  his 
fpecial  Work  on  the  Hearts  of  Men.  The  Fruit  of 
the  SPIRIT  (  fays  he  f  )  is  in  all  Goodnefs,  and 
Righteoufnefs  and  Truth.  Tne  Enumeration  is  more 
full  in  his  Epiftle  to  the  GALATIANS  j ;  The  Fruit  of 
the  SPIRIT  is  Love,  Joy,  Peace,  Long-fuffering, 
Gcntlenefs,  Geodnefs,  Faith,  Meeknefs,  Temperance : 
#gainft  fuch  there  is  no  Law. 

Wherever  there  is  the  faving  Work  of  the  SPIRIT* 
it  will  appear  in  Love;   Love  to  GOD,  and  Love 


ft  i  John 2. 4, 5, 6.    *  Vy.  7.     f 
|  Cbap.  5/22,23. 


26  INTRODUCTION. 

to  our  Neighbour,  on  which  two  Commandments  (  as 
our  SAVIOUR  exprefTes  it  **  )  do  hang  all  the  Lai* 
and  the  Prophets. 

There  will  be  Love  to  GOD  ;  the  Reality  of  it 
in  the  Hearty  and  the  genuine  Appearance  of  it  in 
the  Life.  It  may  difcover  itfelf  in  the  Paffi- 
ens;  and  this  in  a  lo-wer  or  higher  Degree,  accord 
ing  to  the  Temper,  Education  and  other  Circum- 
ftances  of  the  Perfons  who  are  the  Subjefts  of  it  ; 
And  where  the  paffionate  Appearance  may  be  great- 
eft,  many  may  be  ready  to  think,  there  is  the  tru- 
efl  and  higheft  Love:  But  this  is  a  Miftake.  The 
yajjlonate  Difcovery  of  Love  is  not  the  beft  Evi 
dence,  either  of  its  Being  or  Strength :  The  fureft 
and  mofl  fubftantial  Proof  is,  Obedience  to  the  Com 
mandments  of  GOD  ;  and  the  ftronger  the  Love, 
the  more  uniform,  fteady  and  pleafant  will  be  this 
Obedience.  The  Scripture  is  remarkably  exprefs 
in  this  Matter.  Says  our  SAVIOUR  f,  If  ye  love 
me,  keep  my  Commandments.  And  in  the  21  if.  He 
that  hath  my  -Commandments  and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is 
that  loveth  me.  So,  in  the  23  t»  If  any  Man  love 
me,  he  mil  keep  my  Words.  The  fame  Thing  is 
again  repeated  *,  This  is  the  Love  of  GOD,  that  we 
keep  his  Commandments.  It  is  added,  and  his  Com 
mandments  are  not  grievous. 

There  will  alfo  be  Love  to  our  Neighbour  ;  a 
Love  unconfin'd  as  to  its  Objeft.  We  fliall  love 
not  only  thofe  who  love  us,  and  are  of  our  Opinion 
and  Party :  This  is  nothing  more  than  the  Love  of 
Publicans  and  Sinners  j :  But  we  mall  love  thofe 


**  Matth.  22.  40.     f  Job*  J4-  ij-     *  i  Joh.  5-3- 
£  jffcr. '£.  4& 

who 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

who  hate  us,  and  are  our  greatefl  Enemies ;  yea,  we 
(hall  love  all  Men,  but  thofe  efpecially,  who  are 
of  the  Houftold  of  Faith.    And  our  Love  will  be  a 
;  Love  like  to  that  we  have  for  our  ourf elves ;  like  it 
for  unfeigned  Sincerity,   and  all  the  genuine  Ex- 
!  preffions  of  true  Benevolence.     It  will  be  a  Love, 
<:  not  in  Wordy  neither  in  Tongue  only,  hut  in  Deed  and 
Truth.     It  will  appear  in  all  the  Offices  of  Kind- 
1  nefs,  both  to  Men's  Souls  and  Bodies;  opening  our 
Hearts  and  Hands  to  minifter  to  their  Help,  as  we 
are  able.     Wherever  this  Love  reigns,  as  it  ought 
to  do,   it  will  banilh  ill  Nature,  evil  Surmifings, 
unchriftan  Jealoufies :  It  willreftrain  the  Mind  from 
evil  Thinking,  and  much  more  the  Tongue  from  evil 
Speaking.     There  will  be  no  fecret  Wintering  and 
Backbiting,   much  lefs  open  dealing  in  Slander  and 
Reproach  :     So  far,  will  Chriftians  be  from   injuri- 
oufly  treating  one  another,  that  they  will  rather 
cover  one  another's  Failings ;  forbearing  and  for 
giving  one  another,  as  GOD  for  CHRIST'S  Sake 
forgiveth  us. 

The  next  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT  is  Joy  ;  by  which 
we  are  to  underftand,  not  meerly  an  animal  Pajfion, 
a  free  Flow  of  Spirits  :  This  there  may  be  where 
there  is  no  true  Joy.  And  that  Joy  ought  always 
to  be  fufpefted,  which  rifes  high  in  its  fmfible  Ap- 
fearance,  while  the  Temper  of  the  Mind  is  not,  at 
the  fame  Time,  proper tionably  exalted  in  its  real 
Spirituality.  Wherever  there  is  this  Joy,  there  will 
be  a  Complacence  of  Soul  in  GOD,  a  holy  Satisfac 
tion  and  Chearfulnefs  of  Mind  :  And  as  it  will  be 
mixl  with  a  becoming  Fear  and  Caution,  fo  will  it 
«xprds  it  felf  in  as  low  an  Abafement  of  our  felves, 
as  high  Adorations  of  the  free  and  rich  Grace  of 
GOD.— But  of  this  I  fliall  have  Oceafion  to  dift 
courfe  largely  afterwards. 

Another 


28  INTRODUCTION. 

.  Another  of  thefe  Fruits  is  Peace  ;  by  which  (  I 
fuppofe)  is  here  meant,  not  fo  much  a  holy  Sere 
nity  of  Mind  (  that  being  before  fpoken  of  )  as 
that  State  of  outward  Quietnefs,  and  good  Order, 
which  may  juftly  be  expected,  where  Men's  Paf* 
fions  are  under  a  divine  Government,  and  they 
themfelves  have  been  formed  to  a  Temper,  dif- 
pofmg  them  to  live  peaceably  with  all  Men^  if  it  be 
pojjible,  and  as  much  as  in  them  lies.  The  Afojtle  has 
told  us,  f  that  Variance,  Emulations,  Wrath,  Strife, 
Seditions,  are  Works  of  the  Flefh.  He  alfo  mentions 
it  as  the  Character  of  the  Wtfdom  that  is  from  a* 
love  fj  that  it  is  peaceable,  gentle  and  eafy  to  be  in- 
treated  ;  full  of  Mercy  and  good  Fruits ;  While  he 
declares  ft*  tnat  if  we  have  bitter  Envyings  and 
Strife,  this  JVifdom  defcendeth  not  from  above  ;  but 
is  earthly,  fenfual,  and  devilifl}  :  For  where  Envying 
and  Strife  is,  there  is  Confufion  and  every  evil  Work. 
If  Men  are  fierce  and  furious  ,*  if  they  foment  Di- 
vifions,  and  promote  Contention  and  Schifm,  they 
are  fo  far  fenfual,  not  having  the  SPIRIT',  for  the 
Fruit~of  the  SPIRIT  is  Peace,  a  dwelling  together 
in  Love  and  Unity.  'Tis  true,  our  SAVIOUR  has 
faid  *,  Suppofe  ye  that  I  am  come  to  give  Peace  on 
Earth  ?  /  tell  you  nay  ;  but  rather  Divifwn.  For 
from  henceforth  there  pall  be  five  in  one  Houfe  divided, 
three  againfl  two,  and  two  againjl  three.  The  Father 
fhall  be  divided  againjl  the  Son,  and  the  Son  againjl 
the  Father;  the  Mother  againfl  the  Daughter,  and  the 
Daughter  againjl  the  Mother,  and  fo  on.  But  this 
Text  is  intended  to  reprefent,  not  the  proper  De- 
Jign  of  CHRIST'S  coming,  nor  yet  the  genuine  Ten 
dency  of  it ;  but  what  would  unhappily  be  the  Ef- 


f  Eph.  5.  20.     ft  Jam.  3. 17.     fi&\  1.4,  i$i  16. 
*  Luke  12.51,52,53. 

feel 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

through  the  Prevalence  of  Men's  Lufts,  in 
Oppofltion  to  the  Precepts  of  the  Gofpel  :  Nor 
can  it  be  fuppos'd,  this  _  (hould  be  the  Effect,  a- 
mong  thofe  who  are  fawngly  wrought  upon  by  the 
SPIRIT.  Whatever  Occafion  the  coming  of 
CHRIST  may  give  to  the  working  of  Luft  in 
others,  in  refpeft  of  thefe,  the  Turbulency  of 
their  Spirits  has  been  fo  check'd,  their  Paffions 
brought  under  fuch  Reftraint,  their  old  Man  fuf- 
fer'd  fuch  a  Mortification,  that  it  can't  be  fuppof- 
ed  they  {hould  be  given  to  Strife  and  Contention, 
and  go  into  the  like  mutinous  and  divifive  Me 
thods^  with  Men  that  are  carnal  If  the  Fruit  of 
the  SPIRIT  is  Peace,  thofe,  certainly,  who  pre 
tend  to  the  SPIRIT,  muft  be  diftinguifh'd  from 
others  by  their  peaceable  Temper  and  Conduct  : 
Nor  may  it  be  thought,  that  they  (hould  be  the 
Difturbers  of  Society,  the  Inftruments  to  fow  the 
Seeds  of  Difcord  and  Confufion :  They  will  rather 
endeavour  to  keep  the  Unity  of  the  SPIRIT  in  the 
Bond  of  Peace.  • 

A  fourth  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT  is  Long-offering. 
This  fuppofes  Injuries  and  Abufes,  and  is  expref- 
five  of  the  Temper  and  Behaviour 'of  one  that  is 
fpiritual.  He  is  flow  of  Refentment,  loth  to  re 
taliate  ;  not  apt  to  take  Offence,  nor  hafty  to  ren 
der  Evil  for  Evil  ;  but  prone  rather  to  overcome 
Evil  with  Good  :  He  is  patient  under  Ill-treat 
ment,  firm  againfl  the  Impreffions  of  Wrath ;  can 
fuffer  a  great  deal,  and  endure  Infill ts  and  bafe 
Carriage,  without  being  fill'd  with  Indignation,  and 
hurried  on  to  Afts  of  Revenge  ,*  in  thefe  Ways 
walking  worthy  of  the  location  wherewith  he  is  called^ 
with  all  LowlinefSy  Long -fiffer ing  and  Forbearance. 

Another 


So  INTRODUCTION. 

Another  Fruit  is  Gentlenefs.  i  e.  a  Difpofition  tp 
treat  one  another  with  Candour  and  Mildnefs. 
Where  this  Fruit  is,  the  Temper  is  foftened,  and 
rendered  fweet  and  pleafant :  And  this  it  will  ex- 
prefs  in  a  courteous  and  obliging  Deportment.  It 
won't  {land  upon  nice  Points  ;  it  won't  be  harft 
and  rugged  ;  much  lefs  will  it  be  fierce  and  de- 
ftruftive,  calling  for  Fire  from  Heaven  to  devour 
all  who  don't  think  juft  as  we  do  :  It  will 
rather  put  us  upon  the  Methods  of  Mildnefs,  be 
having  towards  one  another  with  Kindnefs  and 
Lenity. 

Goodnefs  is  alfo  rank'd  among  thefe  Fruits.  This 
is  defcriptive,  not  fo  much  of  a  virtuous  Character 
in  general,  as  of  that,  the  diilinguHhing  Mark  of 
which  is  Kindnefs  and  Benignity  :  As  when  our  SA 
VIOUR  fpeaks  of  the  good  Man  for  whom  one  would 
even  dare  to  die,  he  means  to  point  out,  not  only 
a  Man  of  Religion,  but  one  eminent  for  his  Hu 
manity  and  Beneficence  !  And  this  Kind  of  Good 
nefs  there  will  always  be,  in  a  lefs  or  greater  De- 
.gree,  wherever  there  is  a  fpecial  Work  of  the  SPI 
RIT.  It  will  make  Men  tender-hearted  and  cotnpaf- 
fionate ;  kindly  affettioned  to  each  other,  ready  to 
all  the  Offices  of  Love  and  Charity,  apt  to  {hew 
Favour :  And  this  they  will  do,  in  all  the  Ways 
they  can  devife;  yea,  they'll  take  more  Pains,  and 
go  through  greater  Difficulties  for  the  Good  of 
Mankind,  than,  according  to  the  Rigour  of  ftrict 
Juftice,  might  be  expected  of  them.  The  con 
trary  to  this  is  that  Selfifbnefs,  which  prompts  Men 
to  feek  their  own,  and  not  the  Good  of  others  ;  that 
Hardinefs  of  Spirit  that  is  not  touch'd  with  a  feel 
ing  of  other  Men's  Miferies  ;  that  niggardly,  cow- 
tous  Difpofition,  which  can  fee  a  Brother  have  need, 

faut  up  its  Bowels  of  ComfaJJlon  from  him. 

Faith 


INTRODUCTION.  31 

Faith  is  likewife  nutnber'd  among  the  Fruits  of 
the  SPIRIT.     By  this  fome  fuppofe  is  meant  that 
Failhfulnefs,  which  coniifts  in  an  Averfion  to  Ly 
ing  and  i.  allhood  and  Deceit  ,•   and  in  a  Difpofi- 
tion  to  aft  with  Uprightnefs  and  Sincerity  :   But 
others  incline  to  think,  the  Faith  here  intended 
is  that  by  which  we  are  juftified.     And  to  be  fure, 
this  Faith  is  a  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT,  and  fuch  an 
ejjential  one  too,  that  no  Man  may  be  faid  to  have 
been  wrought   upon  by  the  SPIRIT,   in  a  facing 
Senfe,  that  has  it  not.     But  then  it  muft  be  re- 
membred,  this  Faith  is  not  a  meer  fpeculative,  nor 
yet  unaftive  Thing    :     It   will  have   a  powerful 
Influence  both  on  Men's  Hearts  and  Lives.     'Tis 
fpoken  of  as  that  which  purifies  the  Heart  *  ;     as 
that  which  works  by  Love  f  ;     as  that  which  over 
comes  the  World  $  ;   yea,  as  that  which  is  a  living, 
active,  never-failing  Principle  of  all  holy  Obedience 
to  the  Laws  of  GOD  :   Infomuch,  that  if  a  Man 
fays  he  has  Faith,  and  it  mews  not  itfeif  by  his 
Works  of  Rlgbteoufnefs,  'tis  a  vain  Pretence.     Ob- 
fervably  exprefs  are   the  Words  of  the  Apoftle 
JAMES  to  this  Purpofe.     \.[  What  doth  it  profit,  my 
Brethren,  though   a  Man  fay,  he  hath  Faith  ;     and 
have  not  Works  ?     Can  Faith  fave  him  ?     If  a  Bro 
ther  or  Sifter  be  naked,  and  deftitute  of  daily  Food ; 
and  one  of  you  fay  unto  them,  depart  in  Peace,  be  ye 
warmed  and  filled  :    Notwithjlanding  ye  give  not  thojs 
Ihings  which  are  needful  for  the  Body  ;    what  doth  it 
profit  ?     Even  fo  Faith,  if  it  hath  not  Works,  is  dead 
being  alone.     So  in  a  Verfe  or  two  following,  ## 
But  wilt  thou  know,  0  vain  Man,  that  Faith  without 
is  dead  ?     And  again,   \  For  as  the  Body 


*^Ji5.  9- 

14,  to  i  8. 

tGa/.5.6. 

**  far.  20. 

I  John  5.  ±\ 
\.  far.  26. 

\.Jam.2. 
without 

32  INTRODUCTION 

without  the  Spirit  is  dead,  fo  Faith  without  Works  if 
dead  alfo* 

Another  of  thefe  Fruits  is  Meeknefsj  i.  e.  a  cer 
tain  Sweetnefs  of  Temper  j  making  Men  mild  and 
placid  and  quiet ;  which  they  will  difcover  more 
or  lefs,  in  their  whole  Deportment  in  the  World, 
whether  towards  GOD  or  Man.  In  Refpeft  of 
GOD,  they  will  be  ready  to  believe  what  he  fays, 
to  do  what  he  contmands,  and  to  fuffer  what  he 
lays  upon  them  with  Patience  and  Chearfulnefs* 
In  Refpeft  of  Men,  they  will  behave  towards  themj 
if  they  are  Superiors,  with  a  modeft  Deference 
and  Refpeft  ,•  if  they  are  Inferiors,  with  Kindnefe 
and  Condefcenfion  ;  and  if  they  are  Equals,  with 
a  friendly  affable  Freedom.  The  contrary  to 
this  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT,  is  that  Ungovernablenefs 
of  Temper,  which  is  apt  to  exprefs  it  felf  in  An 
ger,  Wrath,  Clamour;  in  Impatience,  Difcontent, 
Murmuring,  and  the  like,  according  to  the  feve- 
ral  Ways  wherein  Men's  Paffions  may  be  excited. 

The  laft  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT  here  mentioned  is 
Temperance,  i.e.  a  Chriftian  Moderation  in  the  Enjoy 
ment  of  the  Things  of  Time  and  Senfe  :  Or,  it 
may  rather  mean  the  fame  Thing  with  Chaftity ; 
which  wherever  it  has  a  predominating  Influence, 
will  reftrain  from  all  Filthinefs,  not  only  in  Speech 
and  Behaviour  but  in  Heart  alfo  ;  according  to  that 
fpiritual  Interpretation,  which  our  SAVIOUR  has  left 
us  of  the  Seventh  Commandment,  in  the  jth  Chapter 
of  MATTHEW'S  Gofpel. 

But  befides  thefe,  there  are  other  Things^ 
wherein  a  Work  of  the  SPIRIT  will  appear.  It 
will  fet  Men  a  praying,  and  difpofe  them  to  main 
tain  a  conftauc  Courfe  of  this  Duty.  This  we  are 

taught 


INTRODUCTION.  33 

taught  from  the  Inftance  of  PAUL,  of  whom,  one 
of  the  Things  recorded,  after  his  Converfion,  is, 
Behold  heprayeth.  Acts  9.  n. 

It  will  alfo  beget  in  Perfons  a  Love  to  the  War- 
(hip  and  Ordinances  of  GOD  in  hh-Houfe,  and  u- 
nite  them  in  a  continued  Attendance  thereon. 
So,  the  firft  Chriftians  continued  ft edf  aft  in  the  Apo~ 
file's  Doftrine  and  Fellow/hip,  and  In  breaking  of 
Bread,  and  in  Prayers  :  Acts  2,  24,^46,  47.  And 
this  they  did  with  one  Accord  ;  praifmgGQD,  and 
having  Favour  with  all  the  People. 

This  now,  in  general,  is  the  Appearance  a  Work 
cf  GOD  will  make,  wherever,  and  in  whomfoever, 
it\akes  Place.  And  if  the  Work  be  remarkable,  fa 
will  be  its  Appearance  in  thefe  Things  :  And  'tis 
to  delude  Men  to  pretend  the  contrary.  If  great: 
Numbers,  in  a  Town  or  Land,  are  effectually  wro'c 
upon  by  the  SPIRIT,  it  will  appear  in  their  Ceaf- 
ing  to  do  Evil,  and  Learning  to  do  well.  They  will 
certainly  become  better  Men  ;  and  it  will  be  vifi- 
ble  they  are  fo.  They  will  appear  more  like  to 
their  SAVIOUR  in  the  Temper  of  their  Minds,  and 
in  the  Courfe  of  their  Lives  :  To  be  fure,  it  will 
be  thus,  if  the  Wwk  is  remarkable  in  the  Degree 
in  which  it  is  wrought.  They  will,  in  this  Cafe, 
be  eminent  for  their  Faith,  Love,  Meeknefs,  Humi 
lity,  Patience,  Juftice^Erotherly-Kindnefs,  Forbearance, 
Forgivenefs,  and  the  like  :  And  as  for  Bitternefs, 
Wrath,  Strife,  Emulation,.  Pride,  Sedition,  Schifm,  and 
the  reft  of  the  Works  of  the  Flefh,  it  can't  be  fup- 
pofed,  that  thefe  mould  abound,  and  be  more  pre 
valent  than  before  ;  certainly,  not  among  thofe, 
who  are  remarkably  the  Sutjefts  of  this  Work :  This 
would  be  to  invert  the  Order  of  Things,  to  make 
that  to  be  the  Appearance  of  a  Work  of  Grace, 
which  is  an  Appearance  arifing  from  Men's  Lufts  ; 
and  perhaps,  the  worft  of  them  too. 

D  Having 


34          INTRODUCTION. 

Having  thus,  in  as  plain  a  Manner  as  I  could, 
fliown  what  a  WORK  OF  GOD  is,  together  with, 
the  APPEARANCE  it  will  make  ;  efpecially,  when 
REMARKABLE,  it  will  not  be  thought,  my  Defign, 
in  the  following  Treatife,  is,  to  refleft  Dimonour 
upon  any  of  thofe  Things  wherein  I  have  made 
a  real  Work  of  GOD,  or  its  Appearance  to  confift.  I 
truft,  I  am  not  miflaken  in  the  Idea  I  have  given, 
either  of  fuch  a  Work,  or  its  Appearance ;  and  the 
rather,  becaufe  what  I  have  faid  upon  this  Head, 
I  have  moflly  exprefl  in  the  very  Words  of 
Scripture :  And  fo  far  as  the  Work,  I  have  above 
defcribed,  appears  in  this  or  any  other  Place, 
I  am,  if  I  know  myfelf,  in  a  Difpofition  to  re 
joice  in  it,  and  thank  GOD  for  it  ;  And  inftead 
of  faying  any  Thing  to  eppofe  it,  would  do  all  in 
my  Power,  to  encourage  and  promote  it.  But 
"tis  eafy  to  obferve,  a  Work  of  GOD  may  be 
thought  to  confift  in  thofe  Things,  in  which  the 
Bible  does  not  make  it  to  confift  ;  and  great 
Strefs  may  be  laid  upon  fuch  Appearances  as  are 
no  fure  Charafterifticks  of  a  faving  Change  in  Men's 
Hearts  :  And  'tis  too  evident  to  need  Proof, 
that  this  has  been  too  much  the  Truth  of  the  Cafe 
in  thefe  Times.  Many  have  taken  the  Work  of  GOD 
to  lie  in  thofe  Things,  which  are  fo  far  from  be 
ing  either  Parts  or  Effects  of  fuch  a  Work,  that 
'tis  rather  a  Reproach  to  the  HOLT  SPIRIT  of 
COD,  to  fuppofe  he  mould  be  the  Author  of 
them  :  And  one  of  the  beft  Ways  to  ferve  the 
Caufe  of  GOD  and  Religion,  is,  in  my  Opinion, 
to  poinC  out,  with  Freedom  and  Plainnefs,  thofe 
Appearances,  which  inftead  of  being  the  genuine 
Fruits  of  a  Work  of  GOD,  are  real  Hindrances  to 
the  flourifliing  of  pure  and  undefil'd  Religion  : 
And  this  prepares  the  Way  to  enter  upon  the 
Buiinefs  I  have  taken  in  Hand. 

PART 


PART    I. 

Particularly  pointing  out  the 
Things  of  a  bad  and  danger 
ous  Tendency )  in  the  late  reli 
gious  Appearance  in  NEW- 
ENGLAND. 


[HERE  is  not  a  Man,  in  the  Country  in  the 
fober  Exercife  of  his  Underffcanding,  but 
will  acknowledge,  that  the  late  religious 
been  attended  with  many  Irregularities 
and  Dlfordefs.  Thefe,  fome  are  pleafed  to  call, 
Imprudencies,  human  Frailties,  accidental  Effects  only, 
fuch  as  might  be  expe61ed>  conlidering  the  Re 
mains  of  Corruption  in  good  Men,  even  among 
thofe  in  whom  a  remarkable  Work  of  Grace  is  car- 
tying  on  :  Others  are  in  the  Opinion,  they  make 
a  main  Part  of  the  Appearance  that  has  been  fo 
much  talk'd  of*  and  have  arifen  unavoidably,  in 
the  natural  Courfe  of  Things,  from  the  Means 
and  Injlruments  of  this  Appearance  ;  and  that  it 
could  not  reafonably  be  fuppos'd^  it  iliould  have 
been  otherwife. 

1  mall  particularly  fliow  what  thefe  bad  and  dan 
gerous  Things  are  ;  making  fuch  Remarks  (  as  I 
go  along)  as  may  be  thought  needful  to  fet  Mat* 
ters  in  a  jult  and  true  Light* 

D  z  Among 


Thins  0V  bad  PART 


Among  the  bad  Things  attending  this'  Work, 

I  fhall  firjt  mention  Itinerant  Preaching.     This 
had  its  Rife  (  at  left  in  thefe  Parts  )  from  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD  ;    though  I  could  never  fee,  I  own, 
upon  what  Warrant,  either  frorn  Scripture  or  Rea- 
fon,  he  went  about  Preaching  from  one  Province 
and  Parifb  to  another,  where  ,the   Gofpel  was  -al 
ready  preach'd,  and  by  Perfons  as  well  qualified 
for  the  Work,  as  he  can  pretend  to  be.     I  cha 
ritably  hope,  his  Defign  herein  was  good  :     But 
might  it  not  be  leavened  with  fome  undefirable 
Mixture  ?     Might  he  not,  at  firft,  take  up  this 
Practice  from  a  miftaken  Thought  of  fome  ex 
traordinary  MiJJion  from  GOD  ?     Or,  from   the 
undue   Influence  of .  two   high  an   Opinion  of  his 
own  Gifts  and  Graces  ?     And  when  he. had  got 
into  this  Way,  might  he  not  be  too  much  encou 
raged  to  go  on  in  it,  from  the  popular  Applaufes, 
every  where,  fo  liberally  heaped  on  him  ?     If 
he  had  not  been  uqder  too  ftrong  a  Biafs  from 
fomething  or  other  of  this  Nature,  why  fo  fond 
of  preaching  always  himfelf,   to   the  Exclufton, 
not  of  his  Brethren  only,  but  his  Fathers,  in  Grace 
and  Gifts  and  Learning)  as  well  as.  Age  ?     And 
why-fo  oftentatious  and  afliirning  as  to  alarm  fo 
many  Towns,  by  proclaiming  his  Intentions,  in 
the  publick  Prints,  to  preach  fuch  a  Day  in  fuch 
a  Pariflj,  the  next  Day  in,  fuch  a  one,  and  fo  .on, 
as  he  paft  through  the'  Country  ;     and  all  this, 
without  the  Knowledge,  either  of  Paftors  or  Peo 
ple  in  moft  Places  ?     What  others  may  think  of  T 
fach  a  Conduct  I  know  not  ;   but  to  me,  it  ne 
ver  appeared  the  moft  indubitable  Exprefllon  of. 
that  Modefty,  Humility,  and  prefering  others  in 
which  the  Serif  tuns  highly  recommend  as 

what 


PART    I.          ani  dangerous  Tendency.         3^7  - 

.what  will  adorn  the  Minifter's,  as  well  as  the  Chri- 
flian's  Chara&er, 

And  what  became  of  his  little  Flock  all  this 
while  ?  This  Gentleman  (if  I  don't  miftake)  ex- 
prefles  a  very  contemptuous  Thought  of  NON 
RESIDENTS  and  PLURALISTS,  when  he  makes  that 
Remark,  in  one  of  his  •  Journals  f,  ff  The  Towns 
"  through  CONNECTICUT,  and  the  Province  of  the 
<f  MASSACHUSETTS-BAY  —  are  well-peopled.  — 
"  Every  five  or  ten  Miles  you  have  a  Meeting- 
"  Honfe,  and  I  believe  there  is  no  fuch  Thing  as 
ff  a  PLURALIST  or  NON  -  RESIDENT  -  MINISTER  in 
(f  both  Provinces.''  And  what  is  the  mighty  Dif 
ference  (  fo"  far  as  a  particular  Flock  is  concerned 
'  in  its  Paftors  Labours  )  between  an  ITINERANT  , 
PREACHER,  abfent  from  his  Charge  feven  Eights 
of  his  Time,  and  a  NON-RESIDENT-MINISTER  ? 
Or,  between  a  PLURALIST,  and  one  that  acts  as., 
though  all  the  Pari/hes  in  a  Country  were  his  pro 
per  Cure  ?  'Tis  true,  your  NON-RESIDENTS  and 
PLURALISTS  have  their  worldly  Encouragements  :  , 
And  fome  are  in  the  Opinion,  it  han't  been  to  > 
Mr.  WHITEFIELD'S  Difad vantage,  on  temporal  Ac 
counts,  that  he  has  travelled  about  the  World  in 
Quality  of  an  Itinerant-  Preacher.  He  has  certain 
ly  made  LARGE  COLLECTIONS  :  'And  if,  in  the  do 
ing  of  this>  he  had  a  Fellow- feeling  with  the  Or 
phans,  'tis  no  more  than  might  be  expected.  Na 
one,  I  believe, -befite  himfelf,  can  t^^\\Q.  Amount 
of  the  'Pfefenfs,  'he,  received  in  this .  Tcfwn,  as 
well  as  in  other -Places,  for  his  own  proper  Ufe. 

The  Aext   Gentleman  that  practifed   upon   this 
%  new  Method  was.  Mr.  GILBERT  TENNENT,  who  came 

Journal  of  NEW-ENGLAND,  Page  94,9-%  • 
D  3 


§8  Things  of  a  b*A  PART    If 

in  the  Middle  of  Winter,  from  NEW-BRUNSWICK 
(a  Journey  of  more  than  300  Miles  )  to  BOSTON, 
"  to  water  the  Seed  fown  by  Mr,  WHITEFIELD  ;" 
the  Miniflers  in  the  Town,  though  a  confiderable 
Body,  being  thought  infufficient  for  that  Purpofe, 
J  mall   not  think   it    amifs  to   infert  here   Part 
of  an  expoftulatory  Letter  fent  to  him,  after  he  had 
been     preaching     among    us    for    fome    Time, 
*'   Pray,  Sir,  (fays  the  Writer*)  let  me  put  it  to 
(e  your  Confcience  ;  was  not  the  Reafon  of  your 
"  travelling  fo  many  hundred  Miles  to  preach  the 
ff  Gofpel,  in  this  Place,  founded  on  the  Infuffici-r 
*c  ency  of  the  Minifters  here  for  their  Office  ? 
"  Why  travel  fo  far,  in  fuch  a  rigorous  Seafon, 
*f  LO  preach  the  Gofpel,  if  the  Gofpel  was  really 
*'  preach'd  by  the  Miniflers  here  ?   Did  you  not 
*'  fear  f,  **that  notwithflanding  they  pretend  to 
"  water  what  Mr.  WHITEFIELD,  by  the  SPIRIT, 
*'  had  planted,  had  fet  up  a  Lefture,  and; the  like, 
*(  they  would  build  with  untempered  Mortar,  would 
"  build  mod.  Hay,  Stubble,  &c.?"     Had  you  npt 
"  fome  Sufpicion,  that,  either  they  had  not  a 
ft  true  Knowledge  of  the  Do&rines  of  Grace,  or 
fc  if  they  had,  that  it  was  only  a  Head  Knowledge^ 
*:  that  they  were  not  converted,  and  of  Confe- 
*'  quence  not  likely  to  be  made  Inflruments  of 
*'  much  good  ?  .  Ijf  this  be  the  natural  Conftruc- 
f(  tion  to  be  put  upon  your  coming  hither,  can 
"  you  think,  you  are  in  the  Way  of  your  Duty  ? 
"  Can  you  think,  the  bringing  the  Jlanding  Mini- 
«  Jhy  of  a  Place  into   Contempt,   the  Way  to 
*'  promote  the  Intereffc  of  Religion,  and  the  Sal- 
?*  vation  of  Souls  ?     But  perhaps,  you   did  not 


See :the Bofton.  Poft-Soy^  Numb.  353,  f 
Journal* 


PART    L          and  dangerous  Tendency.         39 

<f  think,  nor  would  have  any  Body  elfe  think, 
€f  quite  fo  hardly  of  the  Minifters  here  ?  Per- 
ff  haps,  you  only  thought,  that  if  they  did  a  little 
cc  Good,  you  might  do  a  great  Deal  more.  Is  not 
"  this  approaching  too  near  to  Vanity  ?  Is  it  not 
ff  thinking  more  highly  of  your  felf  than  you 
*f  ought  ?  Is  it  not  contrary  to  the  Scripture 
"  Rule  of  preferring  others  in  Love  ?"  The  An- 
fiver  to  this  Letter  I  never  look'd  upon  as  fatis- 
faftory  :  And  I  have  the  more  Reafon  to  think, 
there  was  a  Propriety  in  thefe  Queilions,  as  I  now 
know  what  Opinion  Mr.  WHITEFIELD  entertain'd 
of  the  Generality  of  the  Minifters  in  Town.  I  mall 
only  fay,  I  have  had  perfonal  Converfation  with 
one,  who  join'd  in  the  Prayers  previous  to  this 

Journey  to  BOSTON. 

x  / 

Mr,  TENNENT  tarried  in  Town  a  great  Part  of 
the  Winter  ;  in  all  which  Time,  he  never  exprefl 
a  Defire  (  fo  far  as  I  can  learn  )  of  being  affifted 
by  any  one  of  the  Minifters  :  But  feem'd  as  fond, 
as  Mr.  WHITEFIELD  before  him,  of  preaching  e- 
very  Day  himfelf ;  and  did  fo,  willingly  taking 
from  the  other  Minifters  even  their  own  Turns  in 
the  Jlated  Leftures.  :  And  if,  by  their  Subimffion. 
to  him  herein,  they  fell  in  the  Opinion  of  the 
People,  who  can  wonder  at  it  ?  It  would  indeed 
have  been  a  Wonder,  if  they  had  not.  For  ei 
ther  the  Circumflances  of  the  Town  were  fuch  as 
to  require  Preaching  every  Day  in  the  Week,  or 
they  were  not  :  If  they  were  not,  why  did  they 
encourage  fuch  a  Practice  ?  If  they  were,  I 
don't  fee  how  they  could  anfwer  it  to  GOD,  their 
ewn  Confciences9  or  their  People,  to  fit  flill,  and  let 
one  Man  have  [the  fole  Trouble  of  that  which 
was  the  proper  Bufinefs  of  their  Office.  Such  a 
Conduit  as  this  naturally  taught  People  to,,  look 

D  4  -'upon 


40  Things  of  a  bad  PART    1. 

upon  them  as  idle  Shepherds  :  And  if  this  was 
the  Re Heftion,  fame  caft  upon  them,  it  was  no 
other  than  might  be  expedted. 

Mr.  TENNENT  went  from  BOSTON  to  PISCATA.QUA 
in  the  Path  of  Mr.  WHITEFIELD  ;  and,  in  fome 
Places,,  appeared  very  forward  in  tenclring  his  Ser 
vice  to  preach,,  though  he  knew  it  was  not  (  as 
to  Time  )  agreeable  to  the  Minifters.  Upon  his 
Return  home,  he  preach'd  in  moil,  if  not  all  the 
Towns  as  he  paft  along  :  And  if,  in  all  the  Pa- 
ri/heSy  he  had  the  Confent  of  the  Paftors,  it  was,  I 
am  ready  to  think,  by  Conflraint.  They  might 
give  into  it  to  prevent  Difficulties  among  their  Peo 
ple  ;  not  that  they  approved  this  Manner  of  Con- 
dutt,  the  Conftru6tion  of  which  feemed  to  be, 
that  upon  him  lay  the  Care  of  all  the  Churches. 

From  this  Time,  the  Method  of  Itinerant  Preach 
ing  became  common.  Many,  in  various  Parts  of 
the  Land,  took  upon  them  to  vifit  the  Churches  ; 
preaching  from  Place  to  Place,  wherever  they 
went  :  Sometimes,  contrary  to  the  known  Judg 
ment  of  the  fettled  Miniftersy  and  in  Oppqfttion  to 
them ;  and  fometimes,  where  their  Confent  was 
only  a  Matter  of  Neceffity  to  keep  Peace  among 
their  People.  Sometimes,  they  have  come  into  Pa- 
r iilies  of  their  own  Accord  ;  and  fometimes,  by 
Application  made  to  them  from  a  few  difaffeft- 
ecl  Perfons.  Sometimes,  in  order  to  get  the  Li 
berty  of  the  Meefmg-Houfe^  they  have  us'd  mean 
and  indirect  Arts  ,• ,  and  fometimes,  when  they 
could  not  get  into  it,  they  have  gone  into  pri- 
i*jte  Houfes,  or  gathered  Aflemblies  in  the  Fields. 
Nay,  Lay-Exbortcrs,  Men  of  no  Capacity,  nor 
Learning  ;  yea,  fome  of  them  of  a  fufpkious 
Character  for  their  Virtue,  (not  to  fay  any  Thing 

worfej^ 


PART    I.  and  dangerous  Tendency.        41 

xvorfe)  have  travell'd  about  from  Town  to  Town, 
calling  AJfemblies,  and  fometimes  exciting  Prejudi 
ces  in  People  againft  their  Minifters,  for  not  Jet 
ting  them  into  their  Pulpits,  or  not  encouraging 
them  in  their  diforderly  Practice.  I  cannot  better 
defcribe  the  Manner  of  thefe  Itinerants,  than  in 
the  Words  of  a  Friend  in  his  Letter  to  me,  "  The 
"  Itinerant  Minifters  that  have  .been  among  us, 
fe  have  been  (as  I  think)  very  irregular  and  dif- 
"  orderly  in  their  Proceedings.  It  hath  been  their 
fc  Manner  to  eflrange  themfelves,  in  a  great  Mea- 
<6  fure,  from  me,  and  to  aflbciate  with  a  difaffeft- 
"  ed  Party.  ,  They  appoint  and  warn  Leftures 
(*  without  my  Confent  or  Knowledge,  and  juil 
(f  before  the  Time  of  Exercife  they  have  com- 
"  monly  fent  for  my  Approbation  :  And  upoa 
(f  my  mamfefting  a  Diilike  .of  their  Manage- 
f(  ments,  they  have  preach'd  fometimes  in  private 
(<  Houfes  ;  fometimes  in  a  Barn  ,  fometimes  in 
«  the'op^w  Air. 

The  Inconveniences,  which  have  arifen  from 
this  Method  of  a6ling,  more  efpecially  in  CON 
NECTICUT,  have  been  fo  great,  that  the  GOVERN 
MENT  there  have  taken  the  Matter  into  Conflde- 
ration,  and  come  into  an  Aft_9  whereby  they  have 
retrained,  both  ordained  Minifters 9  and  licenfed  Can 
didates,  from  preaching  in  other  Men's  Parifloes, 
without  their  and  their  Church's  Confent  ;  and 
wholly  prohibited  the  Exhortations  of  illiterate  Lay- 
Men  i. 

It  is  not  my  Bufinefs  to  confider,  how  far  an 
Irregularity,  in  this  Kind,  may  properly  fall  under 


This  4tt  we  had  printed  in  one  of  our  News* 
Fafers,  at  large.  the 


42  Things  of  a  b^A  PART    I. 

the  Cognifance  of  the  civil  Maglflrate  :  What  I 
have  to  do  with,  is  the  Thing  it  felf  ;  which  I 
can't  but  reckon  among  thzDif orders  of  theprefent 
Day. 

I  fee  not  but  thofe,  who  make  it  their  Praftice 
to  go  about  gathering  Ajjemblies,  in  other  Mens 
Parifhes,  properly  come  under  the  Chara6ler  of 
JSufie-Bodies.  .  Thefe  were  common,  in  the  firft 
Days  of  the  Gofpel ;  and  there  feems  to  have  been 
two  Sorts  of  them. 

Some  were  idle,  not  doing  their  own  Bujinefs  ; 
but  wandring  about  from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  talking,  and 
fpeaking  the  Things  they  ought  not.  This  is  the  ve 
ry  Chara&er  of  fome  idle  Perfons,  who  have  late 
ly  rifen  up  among  us.  And  what  is  the  Tho't  of 
the  great  St.  Paul  concerning  them  ?  Why,  he 
lays,  f  They  are  diforderly  Walkers  ,  and  commands, 
that  a  Mark  he  fet  upon  them,  that  they  be  with* 
drawn  from,  and  admonifbed. 

But  befides  thefe,  there  feems  to  have  been  an« 
other  Sort  of  Bufie-Bodies  ;  fuch  as  went  out  of 
their  own  Line,  intermeddling  in  other  Men's 
Matters,  'Tis  obfervable,  the  Original  Word, 
anfwering  to  that  Scripture  Phrafe,  $  a  Bufte-Body 
in  other  Men's  Matters,  is,  allotrio-Epifcopos  ;  one 
that  plays  the  Bi/hop  in  another's  Diocefs,  takes  up 
on  him  the  Infpeftion  of  another's  Charge.  The 
Perfon  defcribed  is  one,  who  qfficioufiy  employs 
himfelf  about  the  Bufinefs  that  does  not  belong  to 
him  ;  ailing  in  the  proper  Sphere  of  others,  as  tho* 


f  2  Theft.  3,  frora  the  i  oth  to  the  ijth, 
}  i  Pet.  4*  JJ. 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.          4.3 

it  was  his,  not  their  s.  This  is  the  Conduci  the 
dpoflle  points  out  :  And  he  has  an  ill  Opinion 
of  it,  or  he  would  not  have  rank'd  it  with  fome 
of  the  greatejt  Crimes. 

It  appears  indeed  to  be  a  Fault  of  the  fame  Kind 
with  that,  which  the  Apoflle  PAUL  blames  in  the 
falfe  Teachers,  who  had  crept  into  the  Church  of 
CORINTH,  to  their  great  DifTervice,  Remarkable 
are  his  Words  upon  this  Head.  I  mall  fet  them 
down  at  large.  *f  We  dare  not,  fays  he  },  make 
<<  ourfelves  of  the  Number,  or  compare  ourfelves 
* f  with  fome  that  commend  themfelves  ;  But  they 
*'  meafuring  themfelves  by  themfelves,  and  com- 
ff  paring  themfelves  among  themfelves  are  not 
(C  wife.  But  we  will  not  hoajl  of  Things  without 
"  our  Meafure,  but  according  to  the  Meafure  of 
*f  the  Rule,  which  GOD  hath  diftributed  to  us,  a 
*f  Meafure  to  reach  even  unto  you,  For  we 
€C  ftretch  not  ourfelves  beyond  our  Meafure,  as  tho* 
"  we  reached  not  unto  you  ;  for  we  are  come 
*f  as  far  as  to  you  alfo,  in  Preaching  the  Gofpel 
"  of  CHRIST  :  Not  boajting  of  Things  without; 
*'  our  Meafure,  that  is,  of  other  Mens  Labours  ; 
€f  but  having  Hope,  when  your  Faith  is  encreafc- 
*f  ed,  that  we  (hall  be  enlarged  by  you,  according 
"  to  our  Rule  abundantly,  to  preach  the  Gofpel 
(c  in  the  Regions  beyond  you,  and  not  to  hoafl- 
"  in  another  Mans  Line  of  Things  made  ready  to  our 
<f  Hand."  Three  Things  are  fuggeiled  to  us 
as  faulty  in  tliefe  Teachers. 

The  firft  is,  thefr-  commending  themfelves  fo  much. 
We  dare  not,  fays  the  Apofile,  corn-pare  ourfelves  with 


2  Cdr.  io.  from  the  12  to  the  17  Verfe. 

few* 


44  Tffiffge*  of.  a  bad  PART     L 


fome,  who-  cowttnend  themfehes.     The  Language  is 
fatyrical,  fetting  forth,  in  the  ftrongeft  Light,,  the  - 
undue  Praifes  tkefe   Teachers  heap'd  upon  them- 
felves.       They  were   vainly.'  puffed  up  in  -their 
Minds,  glorying  in  themfelves,  as   though  they 
were  extraordinary  Perfons,  out-doing  even  the  A- 
poftles.     Such  was  their  Pride  and  Self-Conceit, 
that  they  took  all  Occafions  to  proclaim  their  own 
Goodnefs  ;     which  they,  no  Doubt,  did,  with  fuch 
Art  and  Cunning,  as  hereby  to  infinuate  themfelves 
into  the  good  Opinion  of  the  People,  to  the  pre 
judicing  them  againft  the  very  Jpjftles.      They 
are  therefore  called,  in  the  next  Chapter,  $  deceitful 
Workers  .;   and  reprefented,  f  as  transforming  them 
fehes  into  th^Minifters  of  Right  eoufnefs,  according 
to  the  Example  of  Satan,  who  can  transform  him*  ' 
felf  into  an  Angel  of  Light.     Mr.  BURKITT'S  Note  ' 
here  is  very  juft,  and  may  be  worth  tranfcribing.*  J 
"  It  is  very  poffible,  fays  he,  for  Men  to  be  real- 
"  ly  Satan  s  Inflruments,    animated   and  taught 
"  by  him,  to  do  -his  Work  againfl  the  Intereft 
"  of  CHRIST  and  his   Truth  ;    ,and  yet,  at  the 
"  fame  Time,  to  pretend  to  cxcellarid  go  beyond 
*'  CHRIST'S  faithful  Miniflers,  in  preaching  Truth  ' 
ff  and  Holinefs  :     So  that  the  highell  Pi'etence^1' 
"  to  Truth,  Orthodoxy,  free  Grace,  Purity  apd  J 
<f  Unity,  are  no  fufficient  Evidences  of  a  true 
**  Miniftry.     Satan  and  his  Inftruments,  who  love 
"  to  transform  themfehes  fometimes  into  an  An- 
«  gel  of  Light,  may  pretend  to  all  thefe  ,•    and  * 
*'  notwlthftanding,   be    the  fworn    Enemies   of 
«  CHRIST  arid  hi§  Kingdom," 

Another  Thing  inllnuated  to  be  Blame-worthy  j 
in  thefe  Teachers  is,  their  entring  into  other  Men's 


13.  1,  15 

. 


PART    L         ani  dangerous  Tendency.          45 

Labours,  and  making  their  Boaft'of  Things  mads 
ready  to  their  Bands.  This  Method  of  a&ing,  the 
Afoftle  condemns  by  his  own  Example  to  the  con 
trary.  It  was  not  his  Practice  to  beftow  his  La 
bours  chiefly  on  the '  Places  where  the  Gofpel  had 
.been  fetded,  and  was  now  preach'd  by  faithful 
Men  fee  apart  for  that  Purpofe  :  He  chofe  ra 
ther  io  be  the  firft  Founder  of  Chriflianity  where- 
ever  he  went.  He  did  not  neglecl  ungofpelized 
PlaceSy  to  go  to  thofe  where  the  Gofpel  was  al 
ready  preach'd  ,•  [  This  was  the  Practice  of  the 
falfe  Teachers  he  is  arguing  againft]  but  on  the 
contrary,  he  paft  by  the  People,  who  enjoyed  the 
Gofpel,  in  the  Jlated  Preaching  of  it  by  fettled  Paf- 
tors,  that  he  might;  make  known  the  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST,  to  ihofe  who  had  not  heard  of  his  Name. 
Very  exprefs  are  his-  own  Words  to  this  Effect,  f 
-Yea,  fo  have  I  ftrived  to  preach  the  Gofpel,  not  where 
CHRIST  was  named,  left  I  fhould  build  upon  another 
Mans  Foundation  :  But  as ,it  is  written,  to  whom 
•he  was  not  fpoken  of,  they^fhallfee  ;  *and  they  that 
have  not  heard;  /hall  undcrfiand.  And  if  thole,  in 
this  Day,  who  would  b'e  "thought  more  zealous  than 
their  Neighbours  to  promote  the  intereft  of  Re 
ligion,  inftead  of  going,  from  Place  to  Place,  where 
the  Gofpel  is. already  preach'd,  and  by  Perfons 
much  better  qualified  for  the  Work  than  they  are ; 
I  fay,  if  iriflead  of  this,  they  would  carry  the 
Gofpel  to  the  People  fitting  in  Darknefs,  and  thaty^<? 
no  Light,  (Multitudes  of  whom  there  are  upon  our 
Borders)  they  might  difcover  as  much  truly  Chri- 
ftian  Zeal,  and  do  as  great  Service  to  the  King 
dom  of  CHRIST. 


t  Rom.  15.  20,  21. 


4<5  Things  of  a  ted  PART    I4 

The  laft  Thing  the  Apoflle  blames  in  thefe  Tea* 
chers  is,  their  not  keeping  to  Rule,  their  going  be* 
yond  their  Meafure.  If  this  had  not  been  a  Fault 
in  them,  it  would  not  have  been  to  the  Commen 
dation  of  the  Apoflle,  that  his  Conduft,  in  this 
Matter,  had  been  contrary  to  their' s.  And  yet, 
this  he  glories  in :  He  feems  to  exult  in  it,  that 
it  could  not  be  faid  of  him,  as  of  thefe  falfe 
Teachers,  that  he  had  tranfgrejfed  his  Line,  ex 
ceeded  his  Meafure.  Says  he,  comparing  himfelf 
with  them,  we  Jlretch  not  our  felves  beyond  our 
Meafure.  And  again,  Not  boafting  of  Things  with* 
cut  our  Meafure,  that  is,  of  other  Mens  Labour?. 
And  yet  again,  Not  to  boafl  in  another  Mans  Line 
vf  Things  made  ready  to  our  Hands. 

This  Language  of  the  Apoflle  appears  fingu- 
larly  beautiful,  as  well  as  expreflive,  to  thofe 
who  have  Acquaintance  with  the  GRECIAN  AGONES, 
to  which  it  evidently  alludes.  One  of  thefe  was 
RACING  ,•  concerning  which,  two  Things  may  be 
taken  Notice  of:  The  Stage  of  Ground  they  were 
to  run  ;  and  the  white  Lines,  which  mark'd  out 
the  Paths  for  the  Racers  to  run  in.  Thefe  were 
as  many  as  the  Racers :  Each  Man  had  his  Path 
chalk'd  out  to  him,  out  of  which  if  he  flept  in* 
to  the  Path  of  another,  he  went  out  of  his  Line> 
and  loft  the  Prize.  To  this  the  Apoflle  alludes 
in  thefe  Words.  His  Apofllefhip  f ,  his  preaching 
the  Gofpel,  is  his  running  in  a  Race ;  the  Province 
aflign'd  him  to  gofpelize,  is  the  Meafure  diftribu- 
ted  to  him,  his  Stage  or  Compafs  of  Ground,  which 
GOD,  as  it  were,  by  the  Line  in  a  Race,  had 
mark'd  out  for  him  to  exercife  himfelf  in:  And 


f  Vid.  Doftor  HAMMOND.  Not.  c.  d.  in  Loc* 

to 


PART.    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.         47 

to  this  he  had  kept.  He  had  not,  like  thefe 
falfe  Teachers,  gone  beyond  Ms  Meafure  ;  he  had 
not  ftept  out  of  his  own  into  the  Line  of  another. 

The  obvious  Import  of  all  which  is,  that  fuch. 
are  unlike  to  tbe  holy  Apoftle  PAUL,  and  fland 
condem'd  by  Ms  Example,  who  keep  not  within 
their  own  Bovads,  but  go  over  into  other  Metis 
Labours  :  T^ey  Jierein  intermeddle  in  what  does 
not  belong*  to  them,  and  are  properly  Bujie-bodies ; 
efbeciallv,  when  they  concern  themfelves  in  the 
Affairs  of  others  uncalled,  and  fo  as  to  introduce 
Diforcter  and  Confufion  into  the  Church  of  GOD* 

And  if,  in  the  firfl  Days  of  Chriftianity,  when 
the  State  of  Things  was  fuch  as  to  require  the 
travelling  of  the  Afoflks  and  others,  from  Place  to 
PJace,  to  preach  the  Gofpel  ;  I  fay,  if,  in  thefe 
Times,  even  an  Apoftle  thought  it  disorderly  to  go 
out  of  his  own  Line,  and  enter  upon  other  Men's 
Labours,  'tis  much  more  fo  in  the  prefent  fettled 
State  of  the  Church.  The  Paftor  has  now  his  fpe- 
cial  Charge.  He  is  devoted  to  the  Service  of  the 
LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,  in  a  particular  Place,  and  o* 
ver  a  particular  People.  His  Work,  as  a  Minifler, 
does  not  lie  at.  large  ;  but  is  reftrain'd  within 
certain  Boundaries.  I  don't  mean,  that  he  may'nt 
ufe  his  Office,  in  other  Places,  within  the  Rules 
cf  Order,  upon  fp ecial  Occafions,  and  where  there 
may  be  a  jiift  Call  :  But  his  flated,  conftant  Bu- 
Cnefs  is  with  his  own  People.  Thefe  have  been 
committed  to  his  Care  ;  thefe,  he  has  folemn- 
ly  engagd,  before  GOD,  and  the  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST,  and  holy  Angels,  to  do  all  the  Duties  of  a 
Paftor  to.  And  can  he  be  faithful  to  his  Ordina 
tion  VQW>  or  the  Command  of  GOD,  which  fays, 
'  ffc  Flock  over  which  the  HOLT  GHOST  hath 

mi* 


48  Things  of  a  bad          ;  PART  L 

'made  thce  an  Overfeer  *,  while  he  leaves  his  Peo 
pie  one  Week  and  Month  after  another,  beftow- 
ing  his  Labours  upon  thofe,  he  has  no  particular 
Relation  to  ?  Are  not.  the  Souls  of  his  own  Peo 
ple  as  precious  as  the  Souls  of  others.  Han't  he 
Work  enough,  among  his  own  People,  that  he 
need  feek  for  it  elfewhere  ?  -That  Man  knows 
little  of  the  Work  of  a  Minifter,  xhat  does  not 
know  how  to  employ  all  his  Time,  &  Strength,  and 
Tho't,  for  the  Good  of  thofe  of  his  ovn  Charge. 
He  may  here  fpend  all  his  Zeal,  and  bt  as  abun 
dant  in  Labours,  in  Seafon  and  out  of  Seajov,9  as  he 
judges  proper.  And  I  ihould  think,  extraordinary 
Pains  are  as  fuitable  among  a  Minifler's  own  Peo 
ple,  as  Strangers  ;  and  would  be  as  evidential  of 
his  Love  to  Souls,  and  Defire  of  their  Salvation. 

It  was,  in  my  Opinion,  far  from  being  exemplary 
in  Mr.  WHITEFIELD,  his  taking  fo  little  Care  of 
his  own  Flock.  When  he  went  from  thefe  Parts 
to  GEORGIA,  notwithitanding  his  frequent  Prayers 
for  them,  and  Expreffions  of  a  more  than  ordinary* 
Love  to  them,  and  longing  after  their  Salvation, 
he  was  no  longer  than  Part  of  two  Days  at  SA 
VANNAH  ,•  nor  did  he  preach  there  more  than 
two  Sermons,  if  we  may  believe  his  own  Account,  f 
It  appears  ftrange,  he  mould  allow  his  own  Charge 
fo  fmall  a  Share  of  his  Labours,  as  he  was  fo  to- 
vifh  of  them  elfewhere  !  And  'tis  obfervable,  as 
foon  as  he  had  left  GEORGIA,  and  arrived  at 
CHARLES-TOWN  in  CAROLINA,  his  Journal  again  ap 
pears  with  pompous  Accounts  of  his  Preachings. 
He  writes,  Sunday,  Jan.  4.  "  Preach'd  twice  this 


f  See  his  Journal  from  his  leaving  NEW-ENGLAND, 
Oa.  1740.    P.  34.  35.    *  A8s  20,  28, 

•Day* 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.  49 

Day,  and  expounded  to  large  Auditories."  And, 
Saturday,  Jan.  10.  "  Preach'd  twice  every  Day 
this  Week,  and  expounded  frequently  in  the  Even- 
ing".*  If  this  is  watching  for  Souls,  I  mean,  the 
Souls,  of  our  particular  Charge,  as  thofe  that  mull 
'give  an  Account  ;  it  is  not  a  Matter  of  fo  much 
Difficulty , as- 1  always  imagined. 

And  as  to  others,  who  are  fo  forward  in  going 
into  other  Parifhes,  to  preach  there  perpetually,  I 
can't  learn  that  they  do  more  among  their  own 
People,  than  thofe  who  make  no  fuch  Excurfi- 
ons  ?  Nay,  they  have,  fome  of  them,  greatly 
negle6led  their  own,  from  a  Zeal  to  take  Care  of 
other  Minifter's  People  :  And  they  have  been 
complained  of  on  this  Head,  and  fallen  under' 
fublick  Cenfure. 

One  of  the  Charges  exhibited  by  Mr.  D T'S 

People  againfh  him,  and  laid  before  a  Council  of 
Minifters,-  O6L  7,  1742,  was,  Cf  His  leaving  his 
*(  Congregation,  at  feveral  Times,  for  a  great 
"  while  together,  at  his  Will  and  Pleafure,  with- 
€(  out  Leave  or  Confent  of  the  Church,  or  So- 
"  ciety  :"  Upon  which,  the  Council  gave  it  as 
their  Judgmen^,  "We  think  that  his  Congregati- 
•  tc  on  have  juil  Caufe  to  complain  of  his  leaving 
<f  them,  at  feveral  Times,  for  fo'long  a  Space 
"  as  he  has  done,  without  their  Confent  ; 
"  Whereby  he  has  not  only  left  them,,  deftitute 
c-'  of  Gofpel  Ordinances  ;  but  has  been  too  un- 
"  mindful  of  the  Obligation  he  lies  under,  by 
ff  his  paftoral  Relation,  to  them  who  are  his  fecit- 
"  liar  Charge." 


?  See  P,  38  of  his  Journal 

E  Another 


50  Things  of  a  bad  PART.    I, 


Another  of  thefe  Itinerants  was  complained  of, 
by  a  confiderable  Number  of  his  People  ;  and 
cne  of  the  Articles  they  objected  to  him,  before  an 
Ecclejiaftical  Council,  convened,  June  15.  1742,  was, 
€<  We  are  uneafy  with  his  wandering  from  Town  to 
**  Town,  to  the  great  Difturbance  of  Towns  and 
"  Churches,  and  negle&ing  his  own  Church  at 
(f  Home*'.  Upon  which,  the  Council  came  into 
the  following  Refult,  "  It  appears  to  us,  that 

(f  the  Rev.   Mr.  -  hath  been  too   ready  to 

"  wander  from  Town  to  Town,  and  invade  the 
«<  Bifhoprick  and  Office  of  his  Brethren,  and  ad- 
"  miniiter  Occafion  to  Difturbance  in  feveral 
"  Places  (  and  we  fear  )  to  the  Negle6l  of  his 
(f  faithful  Difcharge  of  his  Duty,  among  his  own 
"  Flock,  and  to  give  too  much  Encouragement 
f(  to  Lay-Perfons  exhorting  publickly  ;  All  of 
€C  which,  are  fo  contrary  to  the  Laws  of  CHRIST 
"  and  his  Gofpel,  as  upon  no  Pretence  to  be  coun- 
<f  tenanced."  I  could  mention  fome  other  Inftances 
in  this  Kind  :  But  thefe  fliall  fuffice  for  the 
prefent. 

And  what  is  the  Language  of  this  going  into 
ether  Men's  Parifhes  ?  Is  it  not  obvioufly  this  9 
The  fettled  Paftors  are  Men>  not  qualified  for 
their  Office,  or  not  faithful  in  the  Execution  of 
it  ;  They  are  either  unfit  to  take  the  Care  of 
Souls,  or  grqfly  negligent  in  doing  their  Duty  to 
them :  Or,  the  Language  may  be,  we  are  Men 
of  greater  Gifts,  fuperiour  Holinefe,  more  Acceptable- 
fiefs  to  GOD  ;  or  have  been  in  an  extraordinary 
Manner  fent  by  him.  Some  of  thefe  Itinerants^ 
**is  evident,  have  travelled  about  the  Country 
preaching,  under  the  full  Perfwafion  of  an  imme* 
diate  Call  from  GOD ;  And  as  to  moft  of  them,  ic 

ma; 


PART.  1         and  dangerous  Tendency.          51 

may  be  feared,  the  grand  Excitement,  at  t!?e  Bo:- 
torn,  has  been,  an  cverfond  Opinion  of  t^ 
and  an  unchrijtlan  one  o!'  their  BreJiren. 
therefore  been  their  Praftice,  too  ceir.u.jnh,  :,--,: 
only  to  boaft  of  their  oiw  fuperior  Goodnefs,  vwrjie- 
ever  they  have  gone  ;  buc  to  inanaaut  ilifpjd* 
onsagainft  the  fixed  Pajiorsytf  not  to  preach  aju.ut 
them,  and  pray  for  them,  as  p<wr,  corral,  uucon* 
•verted  Men  :  Nay,  meer  Candidates  lor  the  JVIU 
niftry  ;  yea,  illiterate  Exhwters,  raw,  weak  yottn.v 
Men,  ot  Lads,  have  too  frequently  taken  u:-  n 
them,  openly  to  judge  and  cenfure  i.heir  Mimfiers  ; 
as  I  (hall  have  Occafion,  afterwards,  to  liiow  ac 
large. 

Moreover,  what  is  the  Tendency  of  this  Prae* 
tice,  but  Confufion  and  Diforder  ?  If  one  Paf* 
tor  may  negleft  his  own  People  to  take  Care  of 
etherSyWho  arealready  taken  Care  of  ;  a  .id,  it  ^r^ay 
be  much  better  thaa  he  can  take  care  of  them:  I 
fay,  if  one  Paftor  may  do  thus,  why  not  ano 
ther,  and  another  ftiil,  and  fo  on*  'till  tliere  i$ 
no  jfuch  Thing  as  Church  Order  in  the  Land  ? 
One  Minifter  has  the  fame  Right  to  enter  into 
ether  Men's  Parifioes  as  another  ;  and  may  vin* 
dicate  his  Conduct  upon  the  fame  Principles  : 
And  if  this  fliould  become  the  general  Pra6lice> 
what  might  be  expelled,  as  the  Effeft,  but  an 
intire  Diflblution  of  our  Church  State  ?  This 
Itinerant  Preaching,  it  is  my  firm  Perfwafion,  na 
turally  tends  to  it  in  the  Courfe  of  Things  ; 
yea,  and  the  Principles,  upon  which  it  is  flip- 
ported,  will  disband  all  the  Churches  in  the 
World  ;  and  make  the  Relation,  between  Paf- 
tors  and  People,  a  meer  Nothing,  a  Sound  without 


It 


52  Things  of  a  bad  PART   I. 

It  will  not  be  thought  a  needlefs  DigreiTion  to 
infert  here,  the  Sentiments  of  the  Fir  ft  Fathers 
of  this  Country,  upon  this  Point  of  Order  in  the 
Churches.  This  jtiftly  lay  with  great  Weight  upon 
their  Minds ;  For  it  is  indeed  the  Strength  as  well 
as  Beauty  of  the  Creation.  Next  to  Faith,  they 
efleemed  Order ;  a  Matter  of  NecefTity  to  the 
Well- Being  of  thefe  Churches.  And  to  this  it  was 
owing,  that  they  held  a  Synod  at  Cambridge,  Anno 
1648,  confuting  of  all  the  Churches  of  the  MAS 
SACHUSETTS-PROVINCE,  by  their  Elders  and*  MeJJen- 
gers  ;  when  they  agreed  upon  that  Rule  of 
Church  Order,  commonly  called,  our  Platform  of 
Church- Difc'ipline.  Here  it  is  declared  as  their  uni 
ted  Judgment,  f  "  That  Elders  are  appointed  to 
ff  feed,  not  all  Flocks,  but  the  particular  Flock 
€f  over  which  the  HOLY  GHOST  hath  made  them 
fc  Overfeers  ;  and  that  Flock  they  muft  attend, 
"  even  the  whole  Flock  :  And  one  Congregation 
"  being  as  much  as  any  ordinary  Elder  can  at- 
(f  tend,  therefore  there  is  no  greater  Church  than 
ff  a  Congregation,  which  may  ordinarily  meet  in 
"  one  Place." 

And  again,*  ff  Church  Officers  are  Officers  to 
(f  one  Church,  even  that  particular  over  which 
<f  the  HOLY  GHOST  hath  made  them  Ovefeers  ; 
€f  infomuch  as  Elders  are  commanded  to  feed, 
<f  not  all  Flocks,  but  that  Flock  which  is  coni- 
*(  mitted  to  their  Faith  and  Truft,  and  dependeth 
*<  on  them  :  Nor  can  conflant  Rejidence  at  one 
((  Congregation  be  neceflary  for  a  Minifler,  no, 
«  nor  yet  lawful,  if  he  be  not  a  Minifler  to  one 


Platform,  Chapter  3,  Se6l.  5.    *  Chapter  9. 
Seft,  (5. 

Congregatioi) 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.          53 

ff  Congregation  only,  but  to  the  Church  univer- 
"  fal  ;  becaufe  he  may  not  attend  one  Part  on- 
"  ly  of  the  Church  to  which  he  is  a  Minifter^ 
«  but  is  called  to  attend  unto  all  the  Flock/' 

And  'tis  obfervable,  though  they  allow  of  a 
Communion  of  Churches,  yet  it  is  only  in  fuch  Ca 
fes,  and  under  fuch  Limitations,  as  may  confift, 
with  the  Rights  both  of  particular  Churches  and 
their  Paftors  ;  yea,  and  with  the  Duties  too  they 
mutually  owe  to  each  other. 

On  the  one  Hand,  they  concede  to  Minifters 
officiating  in  other  Churches  befides  their  own  ; 
'but  then,  it  is  upon  Suppofition  of  a  mutual  Con- 
fent,  not  only  between  the  relpeftive  particular 
Churches,*  but  their  Elders  f  alfo  :  Nor  is  even 
this  allow'd,  but  occafeonally,  and  as  the  Circum- 
ftances  of  other  Churches  may  call  for  the  Af- 
fiftance  of  neighbour  Minifters.  If  the  Minifter 
of  one  Church  be  feck,  the  Minifter  of  another  (if 
defired  )  may  adminifter  Baptifm  in  his  Room.f 
In  like  Cafe  g,  "  fuch  Churches  as  are  furnilh- 
<tf  ed  with  more  Minifters  than  one,  do  willingly 
<(  afford  one  of  their  own  Minifters  to  fupply  the 
u  Place  of  an  abfent  or  feck  Minifter  of  another 
<(  Church^  for  a  needful  Seafon."  JTis  evident 
from  thefe  Paflages,  and  indeed  from  the  whole 
Scope  of  the  Platform,  that  our  Fathers  never  ima- 
gin'd  it  warrantable,  either  from  Reafon,  or  the 
of  GOD,  for  Minifters  to  aft  in  any  Church 


f  See  the  Propofet.  about  a  Confoclation  of  Chur 
ches  ;    Prop.  5.  and  8.     t  Platform,  Chapt, 
10.  Sefti.  8-    n.      t  flatform^  Chap.  15- 
-    5  Seft.  ibid, 

E  3  befides 


54  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

befldes  their  own,  unlefs  with  the  Confent,  not  of 
•a  Purr.y  only  in  the  Church,  but  the  Body  of  the 
Chare//;  >ea,  and  with  the  Concurrence  alfo  of 
ILS  Eider,  if  any  it  had.  A  Conduct  contrary  to 
ti.'j.s,  they  would  have  tedified  againft,  with  all 
Severity  \*  as  being  oppoflte  to  Order,  an  In-let 
Co  Dijrurfranccfy  and  tending  to  Confufion. 

On  the  other  Hand,  they  allow  that  the  Bre 
thren  of  a  particular  Church  may  occafionally,  and 
as  th'jre  may  be   real  Need  of  it,    communicate 
with  other  Churches  in  any  A6h  of  Church  Fel- 
lowibip  ;     but  then,  they  particularly  give  it  as 
their  Judgment  f,  That  "  Church-Members  may 
'*  noc  remove  or  depart  from  the  Church,  and 
«  fo  one  from  another,  as  they  pleafe,  nor  with- 
**  ouc  juft  and  weighty  Caufe  ;     but  ought  to 
<*  live  and  dwell  together,  forafmuch  as  they  are 
'<  comir aided  not  to  forfake  the  AfTembling  of 
"  themfeives  together.     Such  Departure   tends 
*<  to  the  Diflblution  and  Ruin  of  the  Body,  as 
<c  the  pulling  of  Stones  and   Pieces  of  Timber 
"  from  the  Building,  and  of  Members  from  the 
<*  natural  Body,  tends  to  the  Deftrufticn  of  the 
«  Whole."     And  again,  *  «  To  feparate  from 
"  a  Church,  either  out  of  Contempt  of  their  holy 
«  Fellowfhip,  Ui  or  out  of  Schifm,  or  Want  of 
<c  Love,  and  out  of  a  Spirit  of  Contention,  in 
«  Refpe6l  of  fome  Unkindnefs,  or  fome  evil  on- 
<*  ly  conceived,  or  indeed  in  the  Church,  which 
*<  might  and  mould  be  tolerated  and  healed  with 
«f  a  Spirit  of  Meeknefs,  and  of  which  Evil  the 
"  Church  is  not  yet  convinced,  ( though  perhaps 
«  hijnfelf  be  )  nor  admonifhed  :    For  thefe,  or 


f  flat  for  mi  Chap.  ;r,  SeC,  i.    *  Seft.  5, 

thd 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.        55 

"  the  like  Reafons  to  withdraw  from  publick 
<f  Communion  in  Word,  or  Seals,  or  Cenfures,  is 
«•  unlawful  and  finfi.il." 

Had  thefe  Paragraphs  been  wrote,  on  Purpofe 
to  defcribe  the  diforderly  Separations  of  the  prefent 
Day,  they  could  not  have  done  it  more  exaftly  : 
And,  at  the  fame  Time,  they  clearly  exhibit  the 
Opinion  'of  our  Fore-Fathers ,  as  to  the  probable 
Iflue  of  thefe  Things  ,•  that  they  tend  to  break 
the  Church  to  Pieces.  And  what  indeed  can  be 
expected  but  Confuflon,  when  Church  Members 
will  forfake  their  own  Paftors  for  every  waridring 
Stranger  ;  and,  rather  than  not  hear  them,  will 
break  away  from  their  own  Church,  forget  their 
Duty  to  him  that  has  been  fet  over  them  in  the 
LORD,  and  treat  him  with  Anger  and  Wrath  >  if 
not  with  Contempt  and  Infult . 

But  notwithflanding  all  that  has  been  faid  a- 
gainfl  this  Itinerant  preaching,  'tis  a  Practice  migh 
tily  pleaded  for ;  and  many  are  the  Things  that 
are  offered  in  its  Vindication. 

'Tis  faid,  much  Good  has  been  done  by  it.  And 
han't  there  been  much  Evil  likewife  ?  Han't  it 
been  the  Occafion,  not  accidentally^  but  in  the  na 
tural  Courfe  of  Things,  of  uncomfortable  Heats, 
Animofities  .and  Contentions  ?  Han't  Chriflians, 
hereby,  been  divided  into  Parties,  One  faying,  I 
am  of  PAUL  ;  another,  I  am  of  APOLLOS  ;  ano 
ther,  I  am  of  CEPHAS,  to  the  difturbing  the  Peace 
of  Churches  ?  Han't  People,  by  this  Pra&ice., 
been  led  to  glory  in  Men  ?  And  han't  they  had 
feme  Men's  Perfons  fo  much  in  Admiration ,  as  to 
throw  unjuft  Contempt  upon  others  ?  But,  if  more 
Good  had  followed  upon  this  Kind,  of  Preaching 
E  4  than 


56*  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

than  really  has,  it  would  not  hereby  be  juftified  ; 
unlefs  it  can  be  made  to  appear,  that  Evil  may 
not,  by  the  alwife  and  gracious  GOD,  be  over 
ruled  for  Good.  The  Queftion  ought  not  to  be, 
whether  Good  has  been  done  in  this  Way  ?  feut 
whether  the  Way  it  felf  is  countenanced  in  the 
Bible,  or  can  be  vindicated  upon  the  Principles 
of  uncorrupted  Reafon  ?  If  not  ;  'tis,  in  it's 
Nature,  bad,  and  unalterably  fo,  lee  its  Effeftsbe 
what  they  will. 

It  is  further  pleaded,  they  are  good  Men  that  go 
into  this  Practice  :  Their  Hearts  are  fir'd  with 
a  holy  Zeal  to  ferve  the  Interefl  of  Souls  ;  and 
'tis  to  forward  their  Salvation,  that  they  thus  tra 
vel  about  Preaching.  And  are  not  the  Miniilers, 
into  whofe  Labours  they  enter,  good  Men  alfo  ? 
Have  they  not  a  Love  to  the  Souls  of  Men,  and 
ardent  Defires  of  their  Salvation  ?  Or,  mufl  they 
be  thought  felfifh  and  carnal,  becaufe  they  are 
Heady,  and  keep  within  the  Rules  of  Order  in  their 
Endeavours  to  do  good  ?  I  know,  'tis  a  fpeci- 
ous  Thing  for  Minifters  to  go  about  from  Place 
to  Place,  profefling  a  compaffionate  Concern  for 
Sinners,  a  Readinefs  to  do,  or  fuffer  any  Thing, 
to.  promote  their  Conversion  ;  efpecially,  if  this 
is  accompanied  with  a  bitter  Zeal,  againfl  all  who 
can't  come  into  their  Meafures  :  And  they  may 
be  flock'd  after,  on  this  Account,  and  held 
in  great  Reputation,  as  more  My  than  their  Bre 
thren,  more  like  to  CHRIST,  and  his  Apoflks  : 
.But  for  my  felf,  I  have  liv'd  too  long  in  the 
World,  and  feen  too  much  of  the  Wickednefs  of 
it,  to  be  over-pleafed  with  high  ProfeJJlons  ;  ef 
pecially,-  when  they  are  rewarded  with  a?  high 
popular*  Applanfes.  Pride  of  Heart  ;  an  Itch  to 
come  out  of  Obfcurity,  and  to  be  thought  fome- 

body  | 


PART.     L        and  dangerous  Tendency.         5 

body  ;  a  fecret  Pleafure  arifing  from  the  Hofan- 
nas  of  the  Multitude  ;  an  undue  Self-Love,  in 
fome  Shape  or  other,  may  urge  on  (as  it  aftually 
has  done  in  Hundreds  of  Inftances  )  to  as  zeal 
ous  Pains  in  preaching  the  Gofpel,  as  any  in  thefe 
Times,  can  pretend  to  ;  and  from  as  great  a 
feeming  Regard  to  the  Good  of  Men's  Souls. 

I  mean  not  by  what  I  here  fay,  to  reflect  upon 
ALL  thofe,  who  have  gone  up  and  down  the  Coun 
try,  making  a  more  than  ordinary  Shew  of  Zeal 
for  the  fpintual  Welfare  of  their  Neighbours ;  as 
though  they  were  SOLELY  afted,  in  this  Matter, 
from  mean,  and  bafe  Motives.  They  may,  SOME 
OF  THEM,  be  as  good  as  they,profefs  to  be,  for 
all  that  I  know  :  But  this  Condu6l  of  theirs,  is 
not,  in  my  Opinion,  the  flrongefl  Evidence  of 
their  being  fo  :  Nor  can  it  be  collected  from, 
their  Zeal  to  preach  in  othej-  Men's  Parifbes,  that 
they  are  better  than  their  Neighbours  ,*  or  that 
the  Pra6lice  they  are  in,  is  fuch  as  it  ought  to 
be.  They  may  be  good  Men,  and  yet  do  that 
which  is  Evil  :  They  may  have  a  Zeal  for 
GOD  ,•  and  yet,  aft  without  fufficient  Know 
ledge  or  Prudence.  Meerly  their  being  good 
Men,  or  zealous  for  the  Good  of  Souls,  won't  war 
rant  this  Conduct  of  theirs  :  If  it  can't  be  ju£ 
tified  from  other  Considerations,  it  muft  be  con 
demned. 

^  'Tis  again  urg'd  in  Favour  of  thefe  Itinerant fy 
That  "when  the  Time  of  Reformation  was  come 
*'  ony  one  of  the  moft  effectual  Things  done  to- 
€f  wards  the  Reformation  in  ENGLAND,  about  the 
"  Middle  of  the  former  Century,  was  to  fend  a- 
ff  bout  the  Kingdom  certain  Itinerant  Preachers, 
*<  with  a  Licenfe  to  preach  the  Fundamentals  of 

Religion, 


58  Things  of  a  bzd  PART    I. 

"  Religion,  inftead  of  the  Stuff  with  which  the 
*c  Souls  of  the  People  had  formerly  been  famifhed.'* 
This,  which  is  a  Quotation  from  Dr.  MATHER'S 
Magnal.  Chrif.  American,  we  had  printed  in  the 
BOSTON  Weekly  News-Paper  f,  "  to  give  Check 
(  as  is  faid  in  the  Letter  introducing  it  to  the 
Publick}  to  the  great  Out-cry,  and  the  bitter  and 
harfh  Kefle&ions  made  by  many  againfl  Itinerant 
Preachers"  To  which  I  would  anfwer,  by  giv 
ing  a  brief  Account  of  the  Times  and  Itinerants 
here  referred  to,  together  with  the  prefent  Time* 
and  Itinerants. 

As  to  the  Times  and  Itinerants  here  refer'd  to, 
a  jufl  Account  has  been  given  of  them,  in  the 
Letter  to  the  Author  of  the  above  Quotation,  in 
the  following  Words  *,  "  At  the  Time  when 
"  the  Reformation  came  on,  which  began  with 
€€  the  Reign  of  King  EDWARD  the  VJ,  and  was 
ef  carried  on  by  gradual  Steps,  through  the  long 
"  Reign  of  Q.  ELIZABETH,  the  whole  Land  was 
fc  overfpread  with  Darknefs  and  Superftition  :  The 
(e  common  People,  almoft  every  where,  were 
"  ilupidly  ignorant.  This  may  be  fairly  gather- 
*<  ed  from  your  Quotation,  which  fuppofes  they 
€t  knew  little  or  nothing  of  the  great  Doctrines 
<f  and  Truths  of  Chriflianity,  the  very  Fundamen- 
«  tals  of  Religion  :  And  indeed,  it  was  fcarce 
<f  pofllble  to  be  otherwife,  when  they  were  de- 
"  priv'd  of  the  Key  of  Knowledge  ;  the  Scrip* 
s  •  lures,  which  are  able  td  make  wife  to  Sahation9 
ff  being  lock'd  up  from  them  in  an  unknown 
«*  Tongue,  in  which  the  publick  Offices  of  the 


f  Numb.  2016.    *  Seethe  Bofton  weekly  News- 
Paper,  Numb.  2018* 

Church 


PART    I         and  dangerous  Tendency.          59 

<f  Church  were  alfo  performed.  And  whatever 
"  Articles  of  Belief  the  People  held,  they  receiv'd 
"  from  their  Priefts,  by  an  implicit  Faith,  which 
"  naturally  produces  a  blind  Obedience.  Nor 
(f  was  the  State  of  Things  much  better  with 
"  the  Clergy 9  who  were,  the  greater  Part  of 
*(  them,  grofly  ignorant,  and  blind  Leaders  of  the 
((  blind.  The  chief  Learning  they  had,  was  from 
"  Acquaintance  with  School  Divinity,  and  the  Wri- 
<f  tings  of  the  ancient  Fathers,  which,  however  ic 
ff  might  pafs  for  Science,  in  thofe  Times,  was 
"  falfly  f°  called.  In  ihort,  the  Clergy  were  fo 
ic  ignorant,  that  few  of  them  were  able  to  com* 
*(  pofe  their  Sermons  ;  to  fupply  which  Defe6r, 
"  certain  Homilies  were  fet  forth  by  publick  Autho- 
"  rity,  and  enjoin'd  to  be  read,  initead  of  Ser- 
f(  mons,  to  the  People. 

fe  This  was  the  true  State  of  Things  refpe6l- 
*f  ing  Religion  in  England,  when  the  Morning  of 
€f  the  Reformation  began  to  dawn :  Which  leads 
<f  me  to  fay  fomething  of  the  Character  and  Mif- 
ff  fion  of  the  itinerant  Preachers  employ'd  in  that 
«  glorious  Work. 

**  As  to  their  Character,  they  were  Men  of 
«  eminent  Learning,  and  fubftantial  Piety  ; 
"  they  were  ready  Scribes,  well  inftmfted  in  the 
<c  Things  that  pertain  to  the  Kingdom  of  GOD  ; 
<c  and  able  to  communicate  their  Knowledge  to 
*<  others :  In  fhort,  they  were  every  Way  qua- 
(C  lified  to  teach  the  feople  the  great  Fundamen 
ts  tals  of  Religion. 

"  As  to  their  MiJJlon,  it  was  from  proper  Authv- 
'*  rity.  They  did  not  follow  the  blind  Impulfes 
1*  pf  a  wild  Imagination^  or  run  before  they 


€o  Things  of  a  bad  'PART    t 

u  fent  ;  no,  your  Quotation  tells  us,  that  they 
"  were  ffrawW  :  They  had  a  regular  CVz//  and 
5*  Cmwiffion  to  enter  on  fo  great  a  Work,"f 

•     __ in 

•(•  The  Account  Bifhop  BURNET  gives  of  the  Occafion 
and  Rife  of  thefe  Itinerants^  in  the  beginning  of  the 
Reformation^  is  very  obfervable.  <c  The  Fryars^  fays 
"  he,  ufed  all  the  Force  and  Skill  of  their  Induftry  to 
"  raife  the  People  into  Heats ,  by  pafTionate  and  affe£fc- 
"  ing  Difcourfes ;  that  both  inflam'd  a  blind  Devotion* 
*c  and  DREwMoNEY:--But  there  was  not  thatPains 
*c  taken,  to  inform  the  People  of  the  Hatefulnefs  of 
1  Vice,  and  the  Excellency  of  Holinefs,  or  the  won- 
"  derful  Love  of  CHRIST,  by  which  Men  might  be 
"  engaged  to  acknowledge  and  obey  him.  And  the 
*'  Defign  of  their  Sermons  was  rather  to  raife  a  pre- 
"fent  Heat,  which  they  knew  afterwards  how  to 
"  manage,  than  to  work  a  real  Reformation  on  their 
*'  Hearers.  They  had  alfo  intermixt,  with  all  divine 
:t  Truths^  fo  many  Fables,  that  they  were  become  ve- 
"  ry  extravagant  j  and  that  Alloy  had  fo  embafed  the 
"  whole,  that  there  was  great  Need  of  a^5^  Difcern- 
*'  ing,  to  deliver  People  from  thofe  Prejudices,  which 
"  thefe  Mixtures  brought  upon  the  whole  Chriftian 
**  Do&rine.  THEREFORE,  the  Reformers  ftudied 
<c  with  all  pofTible  Care,  to  inftrucl  the  People  in  the 
*'  Fundamentals  of  Chriftianity,  with  which  they  had 
*'  been  fo  little  acquainted.  —  And  much  Pains  was 
*'  taken  to  fend  eminent  Preachers  over  the  Nation  ; 
*'  not  confining  them  to  particular  Charges,  but  fend- 
*'  ing  them  with  the  King's  Licence  up  and  down  to 
**  many  Places/'  It  follows,  "  BECAUSE  in  that 
*'  ignorant  Time,  there  could  not  be  found  ayz^fr/W 
*c  Number  of  good  Preachers  ;  and  in  a  Time  of  fo 
<c  MUCH  JuGLiNG,they  would  nottruft  thelnftrucli- 
<e  on  of  the  People  to  every  one  :  Therefore^  none 
* c  was  to  preach  except  he  had  got  a  particular  Licence 
*c  for  it,  from  the  King,  or  his  Diocefan.  But  toqua- 
"  lifie  this,  a  Book  of  Homilies  was  printed,  &c." 
The  whole  Account  is  worth  reading.  Vid.BuRKET's 
Hiftory  of  the  Reformation,  Vol.  i.  Page  302,  303. 


PART    L          and  dangerous  Tendency.        61 

In  the  fame  Letter,  we  have  alfo  a  jufl  Account 
of  thefe  Times  and  the  prefent  Itinerants.  The  Words 
are,  "I  mall  now  proceed  to  fay  fomething  of  the 
"  State  of  Religion  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  about  two 
fc  Years  ago,  when  the  Itinerant  Way  of  Preaching 
f(  began  to  be  pra6lifed  among  us.  And  if  we 
(f  look  into  our  Church  at  that  Time,  we  fhali 
"  find  them  profefling  the  true  proteftant  Re- 
€f  ligion,  in  the  Power  and  Purity  of  it,  and 
ff  walking  in  the  Faith  and  Order  of  the  Got 
'*  pel.  The  Generality  of  our  People  were 
((  well  inflru6led  in  divine  Things,  and  acquain- 
fc  ted  with  the  Truths  and  Principles  of  the  Chri- 
<c  ftian  Religion  :  Great  Numbers  of  them  were 
ff  Righteous,  talking  in  all  the  Ordinances  and 
<f  Commandments  of  the  LORD  blamelefs.  As  to  the 
(f  Minifters  in  this  Land,  I  believe,  it  may  be  truly 
fe  faid.of  thegreateft  Part  of  them,  that  they  were 
Men  of  found  Learning,  and  fcrious  Godlinefs  ;  they 
were  skilful  in  the  Word  of  Right  eoufnefs,  wife 
Mafter-Builders  in  the  Houfe  of  GOD.  Accord- 
"  ingly,  whatever  you  may  think,  their  Sermons 
"  were  not  empty  Stuffy  tending  to  ftarve  Men's 
(C  Souls  ;  but  plain,  and  practical  ,*  and  there- 
"  fore  profitable.  They  took  Pains  to  feed 
«  their  refpeftive  Flocks  with  Knowledge  and  Un- 
**  derftanding,  and  went  before  them  in  a  blame- 
^c  lefs,  holy.  Converfation.'1 

And  as  to  the  pr-efent  Itinerants,  it  is  remarked, 
€C  as  certain  and  obvious,  .  that  the  moft,  if  not 
(e  all  of  them,  are  fwollen  and  ready  to  burffi 
*'  with  fpiritual  Pride,  As  to  their  Mijfion,  they 
have  none,  except  from  their  own  fond  Ima- 
ginations.  They  indeed  tell  us  of  an  immediate 
Call,  and  AJfiflances  from  Heaven  ,•  but  can 
we  believe  them,  while  the  Divifions  and  Dif- 
orders  they  create,  wherever  they  come,  a- 

«<  bundantly 


fe 


*< 


*' 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

*(  bundantly  confute  their  Pretences.  As  to  their 
Furniture  for  Preaching,  the  mod  of  them  are 
Babes  in  Knowledge,  meer  Novices  in  fpiritual 
Things,  Workmen  that  have  great  Reafon  to 
be  afhamed,  becaufe  they  cannot  rightly  divide 
"  the  Word  of  Truth.  In  one  Word,  they  are 
€f  fo  far  from  being  able  to  inftru6l  Mankind,  in 
€C  the  fundamental  Doctrines  of  Chriftianity,  that, 
*'  as  the  venerable  Dr.  COLMAN,  fpeaking  coii- 
€*  cerning  them,  elegantly  exprefles  it,  "  They 
"  can  only  give  fome  uncertain  Flafhes  out  of 
"  Clouds  and  Darknefs. 

(f  From  all  which  (  as  the  fame  Writer  adds  ) 
"  it  plainly  appears,  that  this  Quotation  from  Dr. 
"  MATHER  cannot  ferve  the  Purpofe  ;  that  no- 
"  thing  can  be  drawn  from  it  in  Favour  of  our 
(f  Itinerants,  and  their  diforderly  Practice  :  And 
€f  therefore  it  can  be  no  CHECK  to  fuch,  as,  with 
ff  great  Reafon,  fpeak  freely  againfl  them.  I 
"  believe  Dr.  MATHER  could  never  have  thought, 
fc  that  this  PafTage,  in  his  Hiftory,  would  ever  be 
"  wrefted  to  ferve  fuch  a  wretched  Deflgn  :  For 
(C  whoever  reads  the  Hiftory,  and  other  Works,  of 
"  that  venerable  Perfon,  will  find,  that  he  forever 
*f  infifts  on  the  vail  Importance  of  a  learned  Mi- 
*f  niftry,  and  always  fets  his  Face  againft  fuch 
*c  ignorant,  and  mifcheivous  Itinerants,  as  are  now 
"  carefs'd  and  encouraged  ;  fpeaking  of  thofe 
«  Vagrants,  with  a  juft  Severity  of  Language^ 
"  and  in  Terms  of  the  higheft  Indignation." 

'Tis  ftill  pleaded,  from  i  Cor.  3.  21,  21,  where 
it  is  faid,  AH  Things  are  yours,  whether  PAUL,  or 
APPOLLOS,  or  CEPHAS,  that  f  "  Minifters,  with  their 
various  Gifts  and  Labours,  are  for  the  Ufe  and 

f  See  Mr.  EMERSON'S  Exhortation  to  his  People* 
Page  5,  Be? 


t          and  dangerous  Tendency.       63 

Benefit  of  the  Church  and  People  of  GOD.  " 
And  who  ever  difputed  this  ?  The  Queftion  is 
not,  Whether  GOD  has  inftituted  a  Miniftry  ; 
and  this,  for  the  Good  of  his  Church,  i.  e.  The 
whole  Collection  of  Believers.  This  is  acknow 
ledged  on  all  Hands  :  But  the  Queftion  is,  in 
what  Senfe,  particular  Churches  that  make  up  the 
Catholic  Church,  have  a  Propriety  in  all  Mini- 
fters  ;  fo  as  that  it  may  be  faid,  they  are 
yours.  'Tis  only  talking  at  Random,  and  to  a- 
mufe  People,  to  tell  them,  PAUL  and  APOLLOS  and 
CEPHAS  are  yours,  i.  e.  Ail  Minifters  are  yours, 
without  faying,  at  the  fame  Time,  according  to 
fome  determinate  Meaning,  How  they  are  fo. 

The  Apoftle,  in  this  fame  Text,  fays,  ALL 
THINGS  are  yours.  But  does  this  deftroy  private 
Property,  and  make  all  Things  common  ?  This, 
I  know,  has  been  pleaded  for  from  this,  together 
with  fome  other  Texts  ;  and  a  Liberty  here 
upon  taken  to  have  Communion,  not  only  with 
other  Men's  Goods >  but  PFtve s  alfo.  '  All  THINGS 
are  yours.  'JTis  a  Truth  as  to  particular  Chrifti- 
ans,  or  Churches,  in  no  Senfe  but  what  will  con- 
fift  with  every  Right,  which  GOD  has  given  to 
one  Man,  in  Diftinftion  from  another  :  Nor 
may  they  lay  Claim  to  any  Thing,  but  in  that 
Way,  and  according  to  thofe  Rules,  which  are 
laid  down  in  Scripture,  or  pointed  out  by  the 
Laws  of  Nature  and  Reafon.  Notwithftanding 
thefe  Words  of  the  Apoftle,  all  THINGS  are  yours  ; 
particular  Men  have  their  own  Wives,  and  parti" 
cular  Women  their  own  Husbands  ;  this  Man 
has  his  own  Houfe  or  Field,  and  fo  has  that  : 
Nor  can  they  invade  one  another's  Property  with 
out  finning  againft  GOD.  Chriftians  can  be  faid 
to  have  a  Right  in  all  THINGS,  only  fo  far,  and 

under 


64  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

under  fuch  Reftri&ions,  as  GOD  has-been  pleas'd 
to  give  them  a  Title  to  them. 

So  when  it  is  faid,  PAUL  and  APOLLOS  and  CE 
PHAS,  i.  e.  all  Miniflers  are  your's  ;  the  meaning 
cannot  be,  that  every  particular  People  have  a 
Right  to  every  particular  Minifter,  in  any  Senfe  but 
what  mall  confift  with  the  Order,  GOD  has  fet 
tled  in  his  Church.  They  can  have  a  -Propriety  in 
them,  only  in  Subordination  to  prior  Rights  ,  and 
-fo  as  that'  there  may  be  an  Harmony  among  them 
all.  Though  it  be  a  Truth,  when  fpoken  of  par 
ticular  Churches,  all  Minifters  aw  yours  ;  yet  each 
particular  Church  has  its  own  Paftor,  and  each  Paf- 
tor  his  own  particular  Church  :  And  in  Vertue 
of  this  Relation  that  fubfifls  between  particular 
Churches  and  Paflors,  each  Church  has  its  f pedal 
Rights  with  Refpe6l  to  its  particular  Paftor,  and 
each  Paftor  the  like  Rights  with  Refpedl  to  his 
•particular  Church  :  Nor  may  thefe  Rights,  either 
of  them,  he  broke  in  upon,  under  the  Pre 
tence  that  all  Churches  have  a  Propriety  in  all 
Minifters.  Their  Propriety  is  reftrahrd  within 
.certain  Limits,  beyond  which,  if  they  extend 
their  Claim,  it  interferes  with  other  Rights,  which 
can't,  -without  Sin,  be  invaded. 

The  Churches,  upon  this  Principle,  For  all  Things 
arc  yours,  whether  PAUL,  or  APOLLOS,  or  CEPHAS, 
have  been  lately  exhorted,  f"  To  hear  and  im- 
:".  prove  for  their  Benefit,  not  only  the  Minifter 
ff  that  is  ordained  over  them,  and  fix't  among 
"  them,  but  as  they  have  Occafion  and  Oppor- 
**•  tunity  other  Minifters  alfo:"  And  have  been 
told,  f  "  If  any  mould  attempt  to  deprive  them 

,-JYMr.  EMERSON'S  Exhortation.    Page  6.    i  Pag* 
-ibid,  of 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.          65 

"  of  this  their  Chriftian  Priviledge,  they  are 
"  guilty  of  Robbery :  They  rob  them  of  a  very 
*f  great  Priviledge,  which  the  LORD  has  pur- 
**  chafed  at  the  dearefl  Rate  ;  and  which  he 
"  has,  in  Love  to  their  Souls,  confered  on 
<f  them  :  "  Whereupon  they  have  been  war 
ned  f,  "  To  ftand  fall  in  this  Liberty  of  their's 
wherewith  CHRIST  has  made  them  free/'  If  the 
Thing  meant  by  this  Exhortation,  which  was 
«<  apprehended  mofl  needful  and  feafonable  at 
this  Day",*  be  only  this,  that  particular  Churches 
have  a  Propriety  in  other  Miniflers,  their  Gifts  and 
Labours,  according  to  Gof pel-Order,  and  fo  as 
not  to  Infringe  on  the  Rights  of  their  own  Paf- 
torSy  or  other  particular  Churches,  'tis  what  all, 
fo  far  as  I  know,  are  agreed  in  ;  And  'twas  per 
fectly  needlefs  to  found  an  Alarm,  as  though  this 
Liberty  of  the  Churches  was  in  Danger.  But  if  the 
Thing  aimed  at  is,  To  give  Countenance  to  that 
rambling  about  from  Parim  to  Parifh,  which  fome 
Minifters  have  come  into,  to  the  Uncafimfs  of 
their  own  People,  to  the  raifmg  Factions  among  ci 
ther  People,  and  to  the  Invafton  of  the  jujl  Right? 
of  the  Paftors  among  whole  People  they  have 
gone :  I  fay,  if  this  be  the  Thing  intended,  the 
Scripture  upon  which  this  Exhortation  is  founded, 
has  been  grofly  abufed  :  Nor  indeed  could  an 
Exhortation,  to  this  Purpofe,  have  had  its  Pvife  from 
it,  but  in  a  mi/taken  and  perverted  Senfe. 

I  complain  not  of  People's  hearing  Miniflers 
that  are  not  their  own^  as  they  may  occafionally 
happen  among  them  ;  Nay,  I  objeft  not  agaiml: 
sue  Minifter's  coming  among  the  People  of  am- 


'** 

f .  Page  ibid.     *^Vid.  Preface  to  the  Exportation. 
tf  tbcf. 


66  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I 

ther,  on  Purpofe  that  they  might  have  the  Bene 
fit  of  his  Gifts  and  Labours  ;  provided  there 
be  a  mutual  Agreement  between  all  the  Parties 
concerned,  and  the  Cafe  fuch  as  may  properly 
call  for  fuch  an  Expedient  :  But  for  Miniflers 
to  make  a  Bufmefs  of  going  out  of  their  own, 
into  other  Mens  Parifnes,  unask'd  ,•  or,  at  the 
Defire  of  only  fome  difaffe6led  People  ;  And 
this,  in  known  Oppofition  to  the  fettled  Paftors : 
it's  contrary  to  all  Reafon,  as  well  as  Scripture, 
and  fubverfive  of  all  .Order  in  the  Churches  ; 
Efpecially,  when  they  carry  the  Matter  fo  far  as 
to  creep  into  private  Houfcs,  when  they  can't  any 
longer  force  themfelves  into  the  Pulpits,  and  in- 
fmuate  fuch  Things  againft  the  fixt  Minifters,  as 
tend  to  leaven  the  Minds  of  their  People  with 
Prejudices  againft  them,  and  hinder  their  further 
Advantage  from  their  Labours.  Some  may  think 
highly  of  this  Manner  of  Conduct,  and  "  blels 
GOD  for  the  many  Sermons  that  have  been 
preach'd  by  fuch  Minifters"  *  ,•  but  for  my  Part, 
I  have  not  fo  learned  CHRIST,  nor  the  Order  of 
his  Gofpel.  And  I  (hall  be  much  miftaken,  if  the 
bad  Effects  of  this  Method  of  Conduft,  don't 
make  fome  Men  fee  with  other  Eyes  than  they 
do  at  prefent. 

'Tis  granted  in  this  Exhortation  f,  <e  That 
Minifters  ought  to  be/well  perfwaded  concern 
ing  thefe  Strangers  that  come  among  us,  that 
<f  they  are  Men  of  Knowledge,  Prudence  and 
"  Piety  ;  Men  of  good  Principles  and  Morals, 
*c  and  that  they  have  a  Call  to  vifit  us,  before 
"  we  invite  them  to  preach  to  our  People." 


f  iage  7.    f  Page  7, 

And 


Cf 


'PART    I.          and  dangerous  Tendency.        67 

And  will  any  have  the  Face  to  pretend,  that  fuf- 
ficient  Care  has  been  taken  upon  this  Head  ? 
Nay,  where'Minifters  have  not  been  fatisfied  a- 
bout,  either1  the  Knowledge,  or  Prudence,  or  call, 
fome  Perfons  have  had  to  come  into  their  Pariflies, 
have  they  not  thruft  themfelves  in  notwithftand- 
ing  ?  And  han't  the  Minifters,  inftead  of  being 
well  thought  of  for  their  Caution,  been  reproach 
ed  as  OPPOSERS  of  the  Work  of  GOD  ?  And  what 
is  it  but  to  upbraid  Minifters,  to  tell  them,  "they 
ought  to  be  well  fatisfied  about  thefe  Strangers  that 
come  among  them,"  when,  if  they  an't  fatisfied, 
they  {hall  be  call'd  all  the  bad  Names  that  can  be 
thought  of  ?  Han't  this  commonly  been  the  Cafe  ? 
Can  it  be  denied  ? 

Thofe  Minifters,  I  mould  think,  who  don't  fee 
through  the  Propriety,  or  Reafonablenefs,  or  Ad 
vantage,  of  Minifters  going  about  into  other  Men's 
Parilhes,  have  juft  the  fame  Right  not  to  invite 
them  into  their  Pulpits,  as  thofe  have  to  take 
them  in,  who  think  well  of  this  Practice  .'  And 
why  mould  their  Chriftian  Liberty  be  invaded  ? 
Why  fliould  ftrange  Minifters  force  themfelves 
upon  them  ?  Is  if  not .  an  Ufurpation  on  their 
Rights  as  Paftors  to  particular  Churches  ?  Does 
it  not  lead  to  Alienations  and  Contentions  ?  Does 
it  not  naturally  tend  to  hinder  the  Ufefulnefs  of 
fuch  Minifters  among  their  own  People  ? 

It  may  be  infinuated,  as  though  their  not  ap 
proving  thefe  Itinerants  was  owing  to  the  Influ 
ence  of  "  a  Spirit  that  lufteth  to  envy."  And 
might  it  not  as  juftly  be  infinuated,  as  though 
this  Itinerating  Difpofition  might  have  its  Rife 
from  a  Spirit  too  much  puffed  up  with  Pride  ? 
But  however  this  be,  I  do  not  thitik>  thofe  who 

F  2  are 


<58  Things  ofabzd  PART    I; 

are  for  Order  in  the  Church  of  GOD,  and  keeping 
Things  from  running  into.  Confuflon,  have  any 
great  Reafon  to  envy  thofe,  who,  from  among  our 
jelveS)  have  been  molt  noted  for  their  travelling 
up  and  down  the  Country  to  preach.  We  gene 
rally  knbw  who  they  are,  and  what  Character  they 
bear  in  the  World  ,•  and  if  difpos'd  to  Envy, 
thefe  are  fome  of  the  loft  Men  who  would  excite 
It.  And  I  am  clearly  of  the  Mind,  that  if  "  the 
Spirit  and  Difpofition  of  the  holy  and  humble  Apo- 
ille  PAUL  .more  univerfally  prevail'd  among  Mini- 
fters  ",  they  would  not  fo  often  imagine  them- 
felves  to  be  Men  of  fo  much  more  Importance  than 
they  really  are  ;  nor  would  they,  from  this  vain 
Conceit  they  have  of  themfelves,  fo  often  go  out 
of  their  0w;z,  into  the  Line  of  others  ;  boafting 
of  Things  beyond  their  Meafure,  and  made  ready  to 
their  Hand. 

I  had  thought  here  to  have  left  this  Head  ;  but 
can't  do  it  without  firft  expreffing  my  Surprize  ac 
the  late  Ordination  of  a  Perfon£0  go  about  the  Coun 
try  as  an  Itinerant  Preacher.  The  Account  we 
have  in  the  Bojlon  Evening-Poft  f,  "  We  have 
*'  lately  heard  from  YORK,  that  on,  or  about  the 
«c  13  of  July  laft,  one  Mr.  D— - L  R— -s,  a  New- 
"  Methodifly  fo  call'd,  fummon'd'  together  a  fo- 
"  lemn  (and  we  think)  unlawful  AfTembly,  con- 
"  ilfling  of  the  Elders,  and  pretended  MeJJengers9 
ff  of  fome  of  the  neighbouring  Churches,  to  or- 
"  dain  the  faid  R— — s  at  large,  to  be  a  vagrant 
"  Preacher  to  the  People  of  GOD  in  this  Land  ;-— 
*<  in  which  Tranfatlion  we  hear,  that  the  Rev'd 
^  Meffieurs  M— Y,  W — E,  J.  R-— s  and  G — K 


t  Numb.  381. 

refolutely 


PART     I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.          69 

€f  refolutely  proceeded,  although  fome  other  of 
ff  the  neighbouring  Minifters  bore  their  Teflimo- 
"  ny  againft  fuch  an  irregular  A6tion." 

That  late  venerable  Man  of  GOD,  whofe 
Praife  is  in  all  our  Churches,  Dr.  INCREASE  MATHRR, 
has  given  the  World  his  Thoughts  at  large  upon 
fuch  a  Tranfaftion  as  this  ;  which  I  Ihall  here 
prefent  to  the  Reader* 

In  his  Order  of  the  Churches  in  NEW-ENGLAND 
vindicated,  he  propofes  this  Queftion  *,  "  May  a 
"  Man  be  ordained  a  Paftor,  except  to  zpanicu- 
"  lar  Church  ? "  In  Anfwer  whereto,  he  af- 
ferts,  that  "  no  Man  ought  to  be  ordain' d  a  Paf- 
"  tor  except  to  a  particular  Church,"  And  for 
"  thefe  Reafons. 

i.  "  We  have  no  Inftance  in  the  Scripture  of 
"  ordinary  Officers  ordain'd,  except  unto  a  parti- 
"  cular  Flock.  A6ls  14.  23.  They  ordained  El- 
"  ders  by  Election  (fo  does  the  Geneva  Tranflation 
"  read  the  Words  truly  enough,  as  that  learned 
"  Knight,  Sir  Norton  KNATCHBULL,  has  critically 
ff  evinced  f-)  in  every  Church.  PAUL  left  it  in' 
"  Charge  with  TITUS,  that  he  (hould  ordain  El- 
"  ders  in  every  City,  Tit.  i.  5.  He  was  not  to 
*(  ordain  them  to  be  Individua  vaga  ;  but  a  par- 
"  tlcular  Place,  a  City  wherein  was  fome  Church, 
<c  was  afllgn'd  to  them  to  labour  in.  He 
(f  mighjt  not  (  as  Mr.  BAYNES  f ,  and  from  him 
44  DIDOCLAVIUS,  fpeaks )  ordain  Elders  as  the  U- 


Vid.  Page  101.     And  onwards,  f  In  Am- 

mad.  in  Lib.   N.    T.      $  -Altars  Damafcen. 
Page  209, 

F  3  niverfities 


70  Things  of  a  bid  PART    I. 

€e  niverfities  create  Dottors  of  Phyfick,  without 
ff  aligning  them  any  Patients  ,*  or  as  they  make 
fc  Majlers  of  An,  without  providing  for  them 
<f  any  Scholars. 

2.  Pajlor  and  Flock  are  Relates  ;   and  therefore 
ff  one  cannot  be  without  the  other,  -r—  To  fay 
€(  that  a  wandring  Levite,  who  has  no  Flock  is  a 
ff  Paftor,  is  as  good  Senfe  as  to  fay,  that  he  that 
<c  has  no  Children  is  a  Father,  and  that  the  Man 
€C  who  has  no  Wife  is  a  Husband  :     Nor  may 
"  it  be  pretended,  that  the  Catholick  Church  is 
((  his  Flock  ',    for, 

3.  cc  A  Paftor  is  under  an  Obligation  to  feed 

€<  every  one  that  is  of  the  Flock,  he  is  a  Paftor 

ff  unto.     A  fits  20.  28.    Take  Heed  therefore  to  your 

*'  fehes,  and  to  all  the  Flock  over  which  the  HOLT 

**  GHOST  has  made  you  Overfeers.     Is  any  Man  a- 

*f  ble  to  feed  all  that  Flock  of  the  Church   Catho- 

'•  lick  vifible  ?    A  Minifter  muft  give  an  Account 

*'  concerning  every  Soul  in  that  Flock,  he  is  the 

ff  Paftor  of.     Heb.  13.  17.     They  that  fay,  they 

"  are   Pallors   of  the  Catholick    Church,  may   do 

€<  well  to  think,   what  Account  they   can  give 

"  of  the  ten  Thoufands  of  Souls  belonging   to 

Cf  their  Flock,  that  were  never  inftrufted,  nor  fed 

"  by  them. 

4.  Suppofing  a  Man  to  have  a  particular  Church 
<c  to  which  he  is  related,  if  he  is  a  Paftor  to  o- 
<f  .ther  Churches  befides  that,  then  it  is  not  in  the 
6f  Power  of  that  Church  to  deprive  him  of  his 
'*  paftoral  Office.     If  they  mould  rejeft  him  and 
"  that  defervedly  from  being  their  Paftor,   he 
€i  may  pretend,  I  am  a  Paftor  of  the  Catholick 
f  *  Church,  and  will  be  fo,  do  you  do  your  Worft. 

This 


PART.     I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         71 

({  This  favours  of  the  Papift's  indelible  Character, 
"  who  pretend,  if  a  Man  has  once  been  ordain'd, 
t(  he  can  never  be  a  Laic  again.  Thus  a  Perfon 
*/  who  is  juftly  not  only  depos'd  from  his  Office, 

"  but  excommunicated,  may  be  a  Paftor  ftill. 

"  Our  Difcipline  declares,  not  only  fuch  as  never 
"  were  related  to  a  particular  Flock,  but  fuch  as 
"  have  been,  but  now  are  not  fo  related,  to  be 
"  no  Church  Officers.  The  Words,  in  the  Platform, 
(t  Chap.  9.  Seft.  7.  are,  "  He  that  is  clearly 
"  loofed  from  his  Office. Relation  unto  £/?#£  Church 
"  whereof  he  was  a  Minifter,  cannot  be  looked 
"'  at  as  an  Officer,  nor  perform  any  Act  of  Office, 
"  in  any  other  Church,  unlefs  he  be  again  orderly 
"  called  into  Office." 

5.  When  Ordinations  at  large  did,  with  other 
f(  Corruptions,  creep  into  the  Church,  a  whole  Sy- 
"  nod  found  it  necefTary,  not  only  to  bear  Wit- 
"  nefs  againffc  that  Practice,  but  to  declare  fuch 
"  Ordinations  to  be  void  and  null,  and  the  Or  darners 
(C  liable  to  cenfure.  It  is  well  obferved  by  the  in- 
"  genious  Writer  of  the  Hijlory  of  the  Council  of 
'*  TRENT,*  that  "  in  the  golden  Times  of  Chri- 
u  flianity,  no  Perfons  were  ordain' d  but  to  a  particu- 
"  lar  Miniftry  ;  but  that  this  pious  Inflitution 
fe  was  foon  corrupted,  Bifhops  ordaining  Men  that 
"  had  no  Election  by  any  Church.''  This  caufed 
"  great  Confufion,  as  the  Magdeburgenfian  Hijlo- 
"  rians  have  noted.  As  a  Remedy,  the  Council 
(f  of  CALCEDON  made  a  Decree  againft  all  fuch 
(C  Ordinations.  The  fixth  Canon  of  that  Synod 
"  declares,  That  if  any  Man  /Jmild  be  ordain  d  ab~ 
(f  folutely,  that  is,  to  the  Catholick,  without  Rela- 


*  Hid.  Trid.  Cone.  L.  6.  Page  550. 

F  4  tion 


*< 


72-  Things,  of  a  ^A  PART    I. 

"  tion  to  a  particular  Church,  the  Impofition  of 
ff  Hands,  which  he  has  received,  /hall  be  null  ;  and 
*(  that  he  flail  ferve  in  the  Church  to  the  Difloonour  of 
"  them  that  have  ordained  him.  This  Decree  was 
"  confirmed  by  other  Synods  afterwards  ;  fo 
fi  that  it  became  a  general  Rule  in  the  Church, 
"  that  no  Man  fliould  be  ordained  without 
"  a  Title.  But  the  forementioned  Hlflorlan 
"  (  with  many  others  )  takes  Notice  that 
"  this  Rule  was  in  Procefs  of  Time  perverted. 
*c  For  whereas,  at  firft,  to  have  a  Title  was  to 
have  a  particular  Church,  afterwards  to  have  a 
Title  was  to  have  Money.  The  Canons  of  the; 
<(  Church  of  ENGLAND  will  not  permit  any  one  to 
f(  be  ordain'd  without  a  Title. 

6.  The  impleaded  Ordinations  are  contrary  to 
*<  the  Judgment  of  our  eminent  Divines,  and  to 
<e  the  Praftice  of  fome  of  the  bed  reformed  Chur- 
*'  ches.  JUNIUS  *  declares  his  Approbation  of  the 
*'  mentioned  Canon  of  the  CALCEDON  Synod  ;  and 
*'  that  fmce  an  Elder  is  not  ordained  to  the  Mi- 
*.-  niftry  abfdutely,  but  to  the  Miniflry  of  this, 
*'  or  that  Church  in  particular^  it  is  fit  the  Church 
"  ihould  be  concern'd  in  the  Ordination  ;  and, 
"  that  in  the  apoftotical  Times,  in  the  Ordination 
*f  of  a  Minifter,  there  was  firfh  a  Cheirotonia9  of 
"  Election  by  the  People  ;  and  then  a  Cheirothe- 
<(  Jia,  or  Impofetion  of  Hands  ;  that  thefe  two 
"  were  always  join'd  together  as  the  antecedent  i 
*f  and  Confequent.  "  Mr.  CARTWRIGHT  f  fays, 
"  that  "  after  Election  follows  Ordination,  which 
if  is  a  folemn  in  veiling  or  putting  a  Miniiler  in- 


Animadverf.  in  BELLARM.  Cap.  3.  &c.  ^.    f 
Reply.  Page  272. 


PART.   I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.          73 

*'  to  the  PcfTeffion  of  that  Office  whereunto  he 
f<  was  before  chofen."  To  the  like  Purpofe  does 
"  WHITAKER  fpeak.  It  is  needlefs,  and  would 
"  be  endlefs,  to  heap  up  Teflimonies  concerning 
"  this,  fmce  it  is  a  common  received  Opinion  a- 
"  mong  our  Divines,  that  the  Election  of  a  Mi- 
"  nijier  by  the  Church  ftould  precede  his  Qrdina- 
"  tion." 

I  fhall  add  to  what  the  Dottor  has  faid, 
That  there  has  appear'd,  in  all  Ages,  more  or 
lefs  of  a  Difpqfition,  in  feme  Perfons,  to  think 
themfelves  qualified,  and  called,  to  aft  as  tho  'they 
were  Paftors,  not  to  particular  Churches  only, 
but  all  the  Flocks  in  a  Neighbourhood,  or  Province* 

The  learned  VOETIUS  makes  Mention  of  "  a 
*•  Circumambulatwn  of  Miniflers  f,  the  running  a- 
ff  bout,  or  rather  the  -wandring  and  walking  about 
6 f  of  Men,  who,  without  any  certain  Call  and  Af* 
"  fixlon  to  any  -particular  Church,  frequently  preach 
<e  Sermons,  expecting  COLLECTIONS  or  PRESENTS  from 
((  the  People.  Such  as  thefe  (fays  he)  were  formerly 
"  caird  walking  Levites,  in  Allufion  to  the  Story 
<c  in  Judges  17.  7.  8.  Such  there  are  (he  adds). 
"  among  the  PAPISTS,,  who  appear  at  the  Heads 
"  of  Streets,  and  in  die  rnofl  publick  Places  of 
€(  Refort,  and  offer  themfelves  to  celebrate 
<<  Mafs." 

The  famous  HOTTINGER,  writing  about  the 
Times  of  the  Reformation  gives  an  Account,  * 


t  Vid.  Polit.  Ecclef.  Part  II.  Lib,  III.  Traft.  II. 
Cap.  X.  *  Vid,  The  laft  Vol.  of  his  Ecclef. 
Hijtory. 

of 


74  Things  of  a  bad  PA&T.    I. 

of  fome  famous  Itinerants,  who  diftinguiihed  them- 
felves  by  preaching  abroad  in  the  open  Air,  and  by 
many  uncouth  Ways  of  Management  ;  fuch  as 
wearing  a  CHAIN  ABOUT  THEIR  NECKS,  and  fome- 
times  THROWING  OPEN  THEIR  BREAST,  and  vehe 
mently  beating  on  it,  and  crying  out  with  a  MIGHTY 
VOICE,  Mercy,  Mercy,  Mercy  !  and  fome  Inftan- 
ces  he  here  mentions  of  thofe,  who  pretended 
to  VISIONS  and  REVELATIONS  :  And  thefc  he 
fpeaks  of  as  fome  of  the  worfl  Sort  of  People. 

But  however  prevalent  this  Itinerating  Difpofi- 
tion  may  have  been,  more  efpecially  at  certain 
Times,  it  was  always  ill  thought  of  by  the  befl 
Men,  and  the  befl  Churches  :  They  have  ever  e- 
fleemed  it  an  Argument  of  Pride  and  Self  -Conceit, 
and  as  tending  to  Strife  and  Schifm,  and  every  e- 
vil  Work  ;  and  accordingly  laid  the  Reflraints  of 
Ecckfiaflical  Authority  upon  it,  fo  far  as  they  could. 

The  united  Brethren  in  LONDON  declare,  "  That 
ff  ordinarily  none  (hall  be  ordained  to  the  Work 
"  of  the  Miniftry,  but  fuch  as  are  called,  _  and 
."  chofen  thereunto  by  a  particular  Church."* 

One  of  the  Articles  of  the  ecclefiaflical  Difcipline 
of  the  French  Proteflants  is,  «  Minifters  {hall 
"  not  be  ordain  d  without  affigning  them  a  fart  leu* 
«  lar 


The  feventh  Article  in  the  Order  of  the  Dutck 
Churches  is,  that  g  «  no  one  fliall  be  called  to  the 


Vid.  Dr.  I.  MATHER'S  Order  of  the  Churches 
vindicated,  P.  107.  f  Ibid.  P.  106.  S  Vid. 
VOET.  PoKt.  Ecclef.  Part  II.  Lib.  III.  Traft. 
II,  Cap.  X/  Miniftry 


PART    I.  and  dangerous  Tendency,        ?y 

Miniftry  of  the  Word,  without  Employment  in 
foirie  certain  Place  ;  unlels  he  be  fent  to  preach 
to  Churches  tinder  Perfection,  or  otherwife  to  ga 
ther  Churches. 

In  the  Church  of  SCOTLAND,  fome  of  the  Con- 
clufions  agreed  upon,  in  feveral  of  their  Affem- 
biles,  after  fundry  Conferences  and  often -Difpu- 
tation  and  Reafoning,  are  thefe  f.  "  All  Of- 
"  fice-Bearers  fliould  have  their  own  particular 
"  Flocks,  among  whom  they  excercife  their 
"  Charge. 

*f  They  that  are  called  to  the  Miniftry,  or 
€(  that  offer  themfelves  thereto,  ought-  not  to  be 
«  elecled  without  fome  certain  Flock  affigned  to 
«  them," 

cc  True  Bifhops  fliould  addicl  themfelves   to  a 

cc  particular  Flock  ;  Neither  fliould  they  u- 

(f  furp  Lord/hip  over  their  Brethren,  and  over  the 
"  Inheritance  of  CHRIST*/* 

«  Paftors,  in.  fo  far  as  they  are  Paflors,  have 
**  not  the  Office  of  Flotation  of  .more  Kirks  joined 
<f  to  the  Pajtor/bip,  without  it  be  given  to  them." 

"  It  agreeth  not  with  the  Word  of  GOD,  that 
«  Bi/bops  fliould  be  Paftors  of  Paftors,  Paftors  of 
<c  many  Flocks,  and  yet  without  a  certain  Flock, 
ff  and  without  ordinary  Teaching." 


f  Vid.  CALDERWOOD'S  Hiftory  of  the  Church  of 
SCOTLAND,  Page  105.    *  Ibid,  Page  112. 

It 


76  Things  of  a  \>*&  PART    L 

< 

€C  It  agreeth  not  with  the  Scripture,  —  that 
*c  they  ufurp  the  Office  of  Fifitation  of  other  Kirks, 
"  nor  any  other  Fun6lion  befide  other  Minifters, 
Cf  but  fo  far  as  {hall  be  committed  to  them  by 
«  their  Kirk." 

And  the  like  Ecckfiaftical  Rules  were  made  in 
the  more  primitive  Times  of  the  Church,  to  give 
Check  to  the  Humour  that  then  prevailed  in 
many,  of  going  beyond  their  own  Bounds. 

The  XlVth,  XVth  and  XXXVth  Canons,  called 
Jfpoft&tical  ;  the  XVth  and  XVIth  Canons  of  the 
Council  of  NICE  ;  the  Hd  and  Hid  of  the  firfl 
Council  of  CONSTANTINOPLE  ,•  the  Xth  of  the 
Council  of  CALCEDON,  with  others  that  might  be 
mentioned  of  thefe,  and  other  Councils,  flrongly 
teflify  againft  this  Practice  of  Minifters  invading 
the  Parifhes  of  one  another* 

It  may,  as  the  Pra6lice  with  us  is  new,  carry 
with  it  a  good  Face,  and  be  readily  encourag 
ed  ;  efpecially,  for  the  Sake  of  fome  Men,  who 
may  be  tho't  more  holy  than  their  Brethren  ;  but 
'tis  the  fame  Evil  now,  it  always  has  been,  and 
will  be  produftive  of  the  like  bad  Effects  ;  fome 
of  which  we  have  already  feen  and  felt :  And  I 
pray  GOD,  they  may  not  prepare  the  Way  for 
ftill  greater. 

The  next  Thing  I  {hall  take  Notice  of,  as  what 
I  can't  but  think  of.  dangerous  Tendency,  is  that 
Terror  fo  many  have  been  the  Subjefts  of  ;  Ex* 


*  Vid.  M.  L.  BAIL.      Swnmam  conciliomm  om» 
nium.    Vol.  L 

preffing 


PART    I.        *mrf  dangerous  Tendency.'        77 

preffing  it  felf  in  ftrangt  Effetts  upon  the  Body9 
fuch  as  fwooning  away  and  falling  to  the  Groundy 
where  Perlbns  have  lain,  for  a  Time,  fpeechlefs 
and  motionlefs  ;  bitter  Shrieking*  and  Scr earnings  ; 
Convulfion-like  Tremblings  and  Agitations ,  Strug 
gling*  and  Tumblings,  which,  in  fome  Inftances, 
have  been  attended  with  Indecencies  I  fhan't 
mention  :  None  of  which  Effects  feem  to  have 
been  accidental,  nor  yet  peculiar  to  fome  particular 
Places  or  Conftitutions  ;  but  have  been  common 
all  over  the  Land.  There  are  few  Places,  where 
there  has  been  any  confiderable  religious  Stir,  but 
it  has  been  accompanied,  more  or  lefs,  with, 
thefe  Appearances.  Numbers  in  a  Congregati 
on,  10,  20,  30,  would  be  in  this  Condition  at  a 
Time  ;  Nay,  Hundreds  in  fome  Places,  to  the 
opening  fuch  a  horrible  Scene  as  can  fcarce  be  de- 
fcribed  in  Words. 

The  Account,  thofe,  who  have  been  under 
thefe  Circumftances,  give  of  themfelves  is  vari 
ous.  Some  fay,  they  were  furprized  and  altoniib- 
ed,  and  infenfibly  wrought  upon,  they  can't  tell 
how  :  Others,  that  they  had  prefented  to  their 
View,  at  the  Time,  a  Sight  of  their  Sins,  in  all 
their  Number  and  Defert  :  Others,  that  they 
faw  Hell,  as  it  were,  naked  before  them,  and 
Defhru6tion  without  a  Covering  ;  and  that  it 
feemed  to  them  as  though  they  were  juft  falling 
into  it  :  Others,  that  they  imagined  the  Devils 
were  about  them,  and  ready  to  lay  hold  on  them, 
and  draw  them  away  to  Hell.  The  iriore  general 
Account  is,  that  they  were  fill'd  with  great  Anx 
iety  and  Diftrefs,  having  upon  their  Minds  an  o- 
ver-powering  Senfe  of  Sin,  and  Fear  of  divine 

But 


78  Thing f  of  a  bad  PART    L 

But  whatever  was  the  Caufe,  thefe  bodily  Agi 
tations  were,  at  firfr,  highly  thought  of  by  many ; 
yea,  look'd  upon  as  evident  Signs  of  the  extraordi 
nary  Prefence  of  the  HOLY  GHOST.  Hence,  it  was 
common  in  one  Congregation,  to  tell  of  thefe 
wonderful  Things,  as  they  had  appear'd  in  ano 
ther,  to  pray  for  the  like  Teflimony  of  the  divine 
Power,  to  give  GOD  Thanks  when  they  had  it, 
and  lament  it  when  religious  Exercifes  were  at 
tended,  and  no  fuch  Effects  followed  :  And  too 
much  Encouragement  has  been  given  People,  to 
depend  on  thefe  Things  as  fufficient  Tokens  of 
that  Senfe  of  Sin,  which  is  of  the  Operation  of  the 
SPIRIT  of  GOD. 

I  have  now  Letters  by  me^  from  different  Parts 
of  the  Country,  all  concurring  in  this  Account  $ 
and  wrote  by  Perfons  of  as  good  Character  as 
moil  among  us,  and  upon  their  own  Knowledge. 
One,  after  he  had  given  a  Narrative  of  the  ftrange 
Appearance  he  had  been  prefent  at,  in  all  the  A- 
gitations  and  Out-cries  above  defcrib'd,  con 
cludes  in  thefe  Words,  "  But  what  appear'd  to 
f<  me  mod  dangerous  and  hurtful  was,  that  Mr. 

ff  (  the  Miniiler  through  whofe  Manage- 

"  ment  thefe  Things  were  effected  )  laid  very 
(€  much  Strefjr  on  thefe  ExtraordinarieSy  as  though 
"  they  were  fare  Marks,  or,  at  leail,  fufficient  _E- 
€C  vidences  of  a  juft  Conviftion  of  Siny  on  the  one. 
ff  Hand  :  or,  on  the  other,  of  that  Joy  there  is 
" '  in  Believing,  and  fo  of  an  Interefl  in  the  Fa- 
f(  vour  of  tjod,"  Another,  after  an  Account  of 
the  Groaning,  crying  out,  falling  down  and  fcream- 
ing,  he  had  been  a  Witnefs  to,  in  one  of  our 
Places  of  Worlhip,  among  other  Things,  ob- 
ferves,  "  That  thefe  Things  were  encouraged 

"  by  Mr. ( a  travelling  Preacher )  and  the 

"  Minifter 


PART    -I.  and  dangerous  Tendency.        7$ 

"  Minifler  of  the  Town,  who  efteemed  them  un- 
"  doubted  Evidences  of  the  Operation  of  the  BLESSED 
"  SPIRIT  ,*  which  appeared  by  all  their Difcourfe."  A 
third,  having  exhibited  a  Relation  of  the  like 
Effe&s,  adds  upon  it,  "  I  perceived  by  the 
fc  Preacher's  Difcourfe,  that  he  fuppos'd  all  thefe 
tf  Things,  the  Effeft  of  a  ftrong  Senfe  of  Truth  im- 
"  prefs'd  upon  the  Minds  of  the  Auditors,  by  the 
«  HOLT  GHOST:1 

And  thefe  Accounts  perfectly  harmonife  with 
the  Pleas,  which  have  been  made,  both  from  the 
Prefs  and  Pulpit,  in  Juftification  of  this  Appearance 
in  Religion.  We  have  been  told  of  the  falling 
down  of  the  JAILOUR,  and  of  SAUL,  afterwards 
PAUL  ;  we  have  been  minded  of  the  Trembling 
of  FELIX,  and  of  the  Three  Thoufand  in  the 
Aft*,  who  were  pricked  in  the  Heart  by  PETER'S 
Sermon  :  And  the  State  of  unconverted  Sinners 
has  been  reprefented  to  be  fuch,  that  it  ought  to 
be  wondered  at,  thefe  EfFefts  are  not  univerfal, 
rather  than  that  fome  of  them  have  been  feen 
among  us. 

But  thefe  Pleas  notwithftanding,  I  could  never 
yet  fee  Reafon,  I  confefs,  to  entertain  a  good  O- 
pinion  of  thefe  religious  Fears,  with  their  Effects 
vifible  on  Men's  Bodies,  confidered  by  the  Lump. 
I  mean  not  by  what  I  here  fay,  to  exprefs  a  Dif- 
like  of  that  Fear,  excited  from  a  jufl  Senfe  of 
Sin  ;  which,  in  Refpeft  of  adult  Perfons,  is  0r- 
dinarily  previous  to  their  Converfion.  The  firft 
Operation  of  the  blefled  SPIRIT  upon  the  Minds 
of  fuch  Sinners  ufually  is,  to  awaken  their  Fear 
from  a  Perception  of  Sin,  and  Confeioufnefs  of  Guilty 
as  I  have  largely  expreil  my  felt,  upon  this  Mat 
ter  elfewhere  ;  But  then,  it  ought  to  be  care 
fully 


8o  Things  of  a  \>z&  PART    L 

fully  remembred,  the  Paflion  of  Fear  may 
be  excited,  not  only  from  a  juft  Reprefen- 
tation  of  Truth  to  the  Mind  by  the  SPIRIT  of 
GOD,  but  from  the  natural  Influence  of  awful 
Words  and  frightful  Geftures.  Even  where  the 
Torments  of  another  World  are  the  ObjecT:  of 
Fear,  the  Paffion  it  felf  may  be  mov'd,  and  to 
fuch  a  Degree  too,  as  to  appear  in  all  the  vio 
lent  Effects  of  Horror  and  Surprize  ;  and  yet, 
the  Origin  of  it  be  no  other,  than  a  mechanical  1m- 
prejjlon  on  animal  Nature  :  And  this,  I  am  in- 
clin'd  to  think,  has  been  too  generally  the  Cafe, 
in  Refpeft  of  thofe  Fears,  and  the  Effects  of 
them,  which  have  been  fo  much  talk'd  of  among 
us.  A  good  Number,  I  truft,  have  been  wro't 
upon  by  the  proper  Influence  of  Truth,  duly  im- 
preffed  upon  their  Minds  by  the  Divine  SPIRIT, 
but  in  Regard  of  a  far  greater  Number,  I  have 
no  other  Thought  of  their  religious  Fears,  difco- 
vered  in  their  Cries,  and  Shrieks,  and  falling  down, 
than  a  mere  fenfitive  Commotion  ',  fuch  a  Sort 
of  Surprize  and  Aftonilhment  as  is  affecled,  not 
by  a  rational  Conviction  of  Truth,  but  a  fud- 
den  and  ftrong  Impreffion  on  the  animal  0 econo 
my.  My  Reafons  are  thefe  that  follow, 

'Tis  with  me,  an  Objection  of  fome  Weight  a~ 
gainft  the  Divinity  of  thefe  bodily  Effects,  that 
they  have  been,  in  all  Ages,  fo  rare  among  'fiber 
and  fdid  Chriftians  ;  while  among  others,  of  a 
contrary  Character,  they  have,  all  along,  been 
common.  So  it  was  with  the  MONTANISTS  of  old  ; 
with  the  GERMAN-ENTHUSIASTS,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  Reformation  ;  and  with  the  FRENCH-PRO 
PHETS,  within  the  Memory  of  many  now  living : 
And  fo  it  was  with  the  QUAKERS'.  They  had 
their  Name  indeed  from  the  treiiibling  and  /baking 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.          8r 

ordinarily  fell  into,  as  though  they  were  all  over 
convulfed  ;  Nor  can  there  be  given  more  re 
markable  Inftances  of  Groaning,  and  Foaming,  and 
Roaring,  than  from  thefe  People  ;  Whereas,  if 
we  turn  our  View  to  the  more  fober  Pan  of 
Chriftians,  we  {hall  be  at  a  lofs  to  find  Examples 
in  this  Kind. 

A  noted  Writer  on  the  Times  f  feems  to  have 
been  at  a  pritty  Deal  of  Pains  to  collect  -\lnjian- 
ces  :  But  how  few  has  he  been  able  to  produce, 
though  he  had  the  whole  Chnflian  World  before 
him,  for  more  than  Seventeen  Hundred  Tears  1 
Nor  are  thofe  he  has  brought  to  View  fo  much 
to  the  Cafe  as  might  have  been  expe&ed.  ' 

The  firfl  Inftance  is  of  a  Jingle  Perfon,  the 
exellent  Mr.  BOLTON,  *  "  who  being  awakened 
*f  by  the  Preaching  of  the  famous  Mr.  PERKINS^ 
"  was  fubjeft  to  fuch  Terrors  as  threw  him  oil. 
"  the  Ground,  and  caufed  him  to  roar  with  An- 
ff  guifli  ;  and  the  Pangs  of  the  New-Birth  in 
"  him  were  fuch^  that  he  lay  pale  and  without 
*f  Senfe,  like  one  dead  ;  as  we  have  an  Ac* 
t€  count,  in  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture,  the  jth 
<f  Edition^  Page  103.  104."  Thefe  are  the 
Words  of  this  Gentleman.  How  it  came  about, 
I  know  not  ;  but  he  has  very  much  mif-under- 
ilood  his  Author,  in  reprefenting  from  him  Mr. 
PERKINS  as  the  Perfon,  by  whofe  Preaching  Mr. 
BOLTON  was  fubjefted  to  Terrors  that  threw  him  to 
the  Ground  ;  for  it  is  not.fo  much  as  infmuated 
in  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture,  either  that  Mr. 


f  Mr.  EDWARDS,  in  his  late  Bookj  Some  Tho'ts  on 
of  Religion  in  New -England.  *F.  25, 
G     -  PE&KINS 


82  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

PERKINS   was   the  Inflrument  of   Mr.   BOLTON'S 
Terrors,  or  that  he  was  ever  thrown  into  them 
in  the   Time  of  Preaching  ;     unlefs  the  Edition  I 
life  (, the  Second)  is  different  from  that,  this  Gen 
tleman  has  in  his  Hands,  which  I  queftion,  be- 
caufe  I  have  now  before  me   the  Life  of  Mr. 
BOLTON,  from  whence  the  Author  of  the  Fulfilling 
of  the  Scripture  took   his  Account  :     In  which, 
one  Mr.  PEACOCK  is  fpoken  of  as  the  Inflrument 
of  his  Converfion  ;     and  'tis  afcribed  to  his  Ac 
quaintance  with  this  godly  Man,  and   not  to  his 
^Teaching,  or  the  Preaching  of  any  other  Perfon 
whatever,  that  he  was  awakened  to  a  Senfe  of 
his  Sins. 

Nor  is  it  fo  clear  to  me,   that  Mr.   BOLTOK, 
literally  fpeaking,   was  thrown  to  the   Ground,   or 
reared  out,  or  lay  like  one  dead.     The  Fulfilling  of 
the  Scripture  has  given  the  World,  not  the  very 
Words,  but  what  he   took  to  be  the  Senfe,  of  the 
Writer  of  Mr.  BOLTON'S  Life  ;     and  this  Gentle 
man  has  done  the  fame  by  the  Fulfilling  of  the 
Scripture.     The  bed  Way  therefore  of  judging, 
in  this  Cafe,  will  be  from  the  very  Words  of  the 
original  Writer  himfelf ;     which  are  thefe,  "The 
(f  fir  ft  News  he  heard  of  GOD,  was  not  by  any 
ff  foft  and  dill  Voice,  but  in  terrible  Tempefls 
"  and  Thunder  ;     the  LORD  running  upon  him 
"  as  a  Giant,  taking  him  by  the  Neck,  and  fha- 
(€  king  him  to  Pieces  as  he  did  JOB  ;     beating 
"  him  to  the  very  Ground,  as  he  did  PAUL,  by 
"  laying  before  him  the  ugly  Vifage  of  his  Sins, 
*c  which  lay  fo  heavy  on  him,  as  he  roared  for 
"  Grief  of  Heart,  and  fo  affrightened  him,  as 
"  (  I  have  heard  him  fay  )  he  arofe  out  of  his 
"  Bed  in  the  Night,  for  very  Anguifli  of  Spirit. 
"  And  to  augment  his  fpiritual  Mifery,  he  was 

ex- 


PART     L         mi  dangerous  Tendency.          83 

ff  exercifed  with  foul  Temptations,  horribllia  ds 
ff  DEO,  terribilia  de  fide"  And  thefe  are  repre- 
fented  to  have  been  fo  vehement  upon  him, 
that,  with  LUTHER,  "  The  very  Venom  of  them 
"  drank  up  his  Spirits,  and  his  Body  feemed 
fe  dead,  that  neither  Speech,  Senfe,  Blood,  or 
€f  Heat  appeared  in  him."  And  this,  it's  faid, 
*f  Continued  for  many  Months." 

'Tis    obvious   at  firft  Sight,  that  fome  of  the 
Language  here  ufed  is  figurative,  and  to  be  inter 
preted  as  fuch>  and  not  literally  ;     as  where  the 
LORD  is  faid  to  have   run  upon  him  as  a  Giant  ; 
where  he  is  faid  to  have  been  taken  by  the  Neck 
and  fhaken  to  Pieces  :    As  alfo  where  his  Body  is 
reprefented  as  feemingly  dead,  without  Senfe,  Blood^ 
cr  Heat.     The  Idea  intended  to  be  conveyed  is 
not,  fc  That  the  Pangs  of  the  New-Birth  in  him 
were  fuch,  as  that  he  lay  pale,  and  without  Senfe^ 
like  one  dead."    i«  e.  According  to  the  Letter  of 
thefe  Words,   and  as  is  commonly   the  Cafe   in 
thefe  Times.      The  Meaning  is   evidently  this^ 
and  only  this,  that  his  Diftrefs  was  fo  great,  and 
of  fuch  Continuance,  that  it  had  a  vifible  Effefil  on 
his  Body,  to  'make  him  look  pale,  and  like  one  in 
a  languid,  State.     And  if  any  fhould  be  difpos'd 
to  think,  the  Spirit  of  this  Author's  Words  is  ra 
ther  to  be  regarded  than   the   Letter,   when  he 
fpeaks  of  Mr.  BOLTON,  as  beat  to  the  very  Ground* 
and  roaring  for  Grief  of  Heart,  I  don't  know  that 
they  would  be  to  blame   ;     efpecially,  as  fuch  a 
Conftruftion  of  his  Words  is  the  only  one,  that 
would,  perhaps,  have  been  thought  of,  if  it-  had 
not  been  for  what  has  happened  among  ourfelves* 
He,  no  Doubt,  defign'd  to  exhibit  this  Gentleman 
as  an  Inflance  of  one,  who  was  in  great  fpiritual 
G  2  Diflrefs, 


84  Things  of  a  ted  PART    I; 

Diftrefs  ;  but  that  he  mean't  any  Thing  further, 
is  not,  to  me,  fo  evident  as  to  be  beyond  Dil- 
pute* 

Nor  is   this  Kind  of  fpiritual  Trouble  uncom 
mon,    in  Refpe6l  of  Perfons  of  a   like   Character 
with  Mr.  BOLTON,  before  his  Concern  for  his  Sins. 
For  'tis  obfervable,  and  particularly  remark'd  by 
the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture  f,  that  he  was  "  e- 
"  minently   prophane   ;     a  horrid  Swearer   ;      and 
(f  much  accuflomed  to   mock  at  Holinefs,  and  thofe 
(f  w/jo  moft  fhined  therein  ;   "particularly ,  that  excel- 
"  lent  Man  of  GOD  Mr.  PERKINS."     The  Writer 
"  of  his  Life  adds  *,  that  "  he  loved  Stage-Plays, 
"  Cards  and  Dice   ;     was  a  Sabbath -Breaker,    a 
"  Boon-Companion,  and  one  that  for  the  Sake  of  Mo- 
f(  ney  had  actually  accepted  of  a  Motion  to  go  over 
(f  to  the  Church  of  ROME."     And  has  it  not  been 
ufual,  in  all  Ages,    for  fuch  great  Sinners,  when 
brought  to  a  Senfe  of  their  Sins,  to  be  greatly 
pained  in  their  Minds  ?     There  is  nothing  Jingu- 
lar  in  the  Cafe  of  Mr.  BOLTON,  unlefs,  accord 
ing  to  the  Letter  of  the  Words,   he  roared  out, 
and  was  thrown  down  to   the  Earth  ;     which,  as  I 
faid,  can't  certainly  be  collected  from  the  Man 
ner  of  fpeaking  us'd  by  the  Writer  of  his  Life  : 
Though  if  it  could,  it  ought  to  be  remembred, 
his  Concern   lafted  for  many  Months  ;     and   by 
this   continued   Prefllire  on  his  Spirit,   his  Body 
was  reduced  to  an  ill  State,  and  it  might  be  thus 
with  his  Mind  alfo.     And  under  thefe  Circumftan- 
ces,  though  his  Trouble  was  of  a  divine  Origin^ 
there  might  be  a  Mixture  in  it  of  human  Weak- 
fiefs.     It  might  be  owing  to  himfelf,  and  not  to 


f  Page  231,  232.    *  Page  12.  14. 

thd 


PART.   I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.          85 

the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  its  arifmg  to  an  undefirableEx- 
cefs  :  Which  is  quite  different  from  what  is 
fuppofed  to  be  the  Cafe  in  thefe  Times  ;  viz. 
That  'tis  by  the  immediate  Power  of  the  HOLY 
GHOST,  that  fuch  Fears  are  excited  in  the  Minds 
of  Perfons,  as  that  they  are,  at  once,  ftruck  to  the 
Earth,  or  forc'd  to  f  cream  out. 

Mr.  GEORGE  TROSS  (  "who  of  a  notorioufly  vi 
cious,  profligate  Liver,  became  an  eminent  Saint, 
and  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel")  is  the  next  Inftance 
of  a  Perfon  in  "  Terrors,  occafioned  by  Awa 
kenings  of  Confcience  ;"  and  thefe  are  faid  £ 
ff  to  have  been  fo  over-pouring  to  his  Body  as 
to  deprive  him,  for  fome  Time,  of  the  Ufe  of 
Reafon."  I  have  carefully  read  over  the  Life  of 
TROSS,  written  by  himfelf  ;  and  he  was  not  only 
"  for  a  Time  deprived  of  the  Ufe  of  his  Reafon," 
but  to  a  great  Degree  ;  and  it  was  thrice  repeat 
ed  :  Nor  does  it  appear,  that  his  Diftraftion  was 
occafioned  by  Terrors  too  great  for  his  Brain  ; 
but  feems  rather  to  have  had  iRife  from  an  ill 
Habit  of  Body,  and  this,  perhaps,  bro't  upon  him 
by  his  own  Follies  :  f  Nor  do  I  remember,  he 
was  ever  in  any  extraordinary  Terrors,  unlefs 
where  'tis  evident,  from  his  own  Account,  that 
he  was  not  himfelf.  And  very  obfervable  are  the 
Words,  in  which  he  relates  his  Deliverance  out 
of  his  horrid  State  of  Mind.*"  But  at  Length, 
"  through  the  Goodnefs  of  GOD,  and  by  his 
"  BleJJlng  upon  Pbyfick,  a  low  Diet,  and  hard  keep- 


Page  ibid,     f  I  fpeak  thus  only  in  general  ; 
becaufe  I  don't  chufe  to  publifh  to  the'  World 
what  Mr.  TROSS  has  done  himfelf, 
His  life,  Page  63. 

G  3  «  ing, 


86  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

€f  ing,  I  began  to  be  fomewhat  quiet  and  com- 
(f  pos'd  in  my  Spirits  ;  to  be  orderly  and  civil 
"  in  my  Carnage  and  Converfe,  and  gradually  to 
"  regain  the  Ufe  of  my  Reafon,  and  to  be  a  fit 
**  Companion  for  my  Fellow-Creatures/' 

I  mall  add  here,  though  fomewhat  out  of 
Place  ;  this  Mr.  TROSS,  in  the  Time  of  his  De- 
liquium,  often  heard  Voices,  and  was  much  given 
to  Jlrange  Impulfes  ;  upon  which  he  makes  this 
Remark  f,  "  I  am  perfuaded,  that  many  of  the 
*f  Quakers,  formerly,  were  deluded  by  fuch  Voices 
<c  and  Impulfes,  from  the  impure  Spirit,  which  they 
*'  miflook  for  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  of  GOD  ;  many 
<c  of  them  having  been  grojly  ignorant,  and  fo 
"  fitted  to  entertain  fuchDeluJions  of  the  Devil,  as 
*?  I  then  was." 

And  befides  hearing  Voices,  it  was  no  uncom 
mon  Thing  with  him  to  fee  Vifions  ;  \vhich,  fays 
he  $,  "  I  mention,  the  rather,  becaufe  I  am  ve- 
f  rily  perfwaded,  that  the  many  Vifions  and  Voi- 
f  ces  among  the  Papijts,  which  gave  Occafion  to 
<c  the  Belief  and  Eflablifliment  of  their  Purgatory 
*'  came  from  the  fame  Author,  or  Caufe  ;  viz. 
f <  a  djjlurbed  Brain,  influenced  by  a  deceitful  and 
*f  lying  Devil. 

But  thefe  extraordinary,  external  Effe&s  are  faid 
**  to  have  been  found,  not  only  in  here  and 
*<  there  a  Jingle  P erf  on  ;  but  there  have  been 
*'  Times,  wherein  they  have  appeared  in  Con- 
*f  gregations,  in  many  at  once.  So  it  was,  fays 
€e  this  Gentleman'*,  in  the  Year  1625,  in  the 


f  Ibid,  Page  48.    $  Page  62.    *  Page  26. 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.          87 

"  Weft  of  SCOTLAND,  in  a  Time  of  great  Out- 
(f  pouring  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD.     It  was  then  a 
"  frequent  Thing  for  many  to  be  fo  extraordinarily 
<f  feized  with  Terror  in  hearing  of  the  Word,  by  the 
*c  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  that  they  felldown^  and  were  car- 
"  ried  out  of  the  Church,  who  afterwards  prov'd 
"  moftfolid  and  lively  Chriftians  :  As  the  Author 
('  of  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture  informs  us,  Pa, 
"  185."     I  ihould  have  been  glad,  if  this  Author 
had  been  a  little  more  particular  in  his  Informa 
tion  ;     becaufe  fo  far  as  I  can  find,  (and  I  have 
been  at  the  Pains   to  confult  all  the  Writers  I 
could  meet  with,  in  fome  of  the  heft  and  largefi 
Libraries  in   NEW-ENGLAND,  upon   the  religious 
Affairs  of  SCOTLAND)     He  only  has  recorded  this 
Story  ;     and  he  has  done  it  fo  generally,  that  lit 
tle  can  be^  argued  from  it.     He  has  faid,  'tis  true, 
it  was  in  hearing  the  Word^  they  were  feizM  with 
this  extraordinary  Terror  :     But  how  the  Word 
was  preached,  either  as  to  Matter,  or  Manner,  tie 
does  not  declare  ;     which  is  a  weighty    Circum* 
ft anc e  in  Effects  of  this  Nature,  as  we  fhall  pre- 
fently  fee,  from  what  I  have   to  fay   upon  the 
like  Effects  among  our  felves.     He  has  like  wife 
faid,   "  They   afterwards  prov'd  folld  and  lively 
Chriftians  :"     But  how  were  they  at  the  Time  ? 
This  is  a  material  Queftion.     For  if  they  were 
like  others,  among  whom  thG&fame  Fffefts  have 
appear 'd,  at  other  Times,  and  in  other  Parts  of 
the  World,    they    may  juftly   be    rank'd    with 
them   ;     at  left,    while  under  the  Influence  of 
thefe  Things,     And  there  is  the  more  Reafon  for 
fuch  a  Queftion  as  I  have  put^  becaufe  this  Au 
thor  has  himfelf  given  an  Intimation,  as  though 
thefe  Effefts,  at  the  Time  when  they  happened, 
were,  by  fome  attributed  to  another   Cauft  than 
G  4  that; 


8  8  Things  of  a  bad  P  A  R  T   L 

that  which  is  divine.  His  Words  are  thefe  *, 
"  This,  by  the  prop-bane  Rabble  of  that  Time,  was 
ff  called,  the  STEWARTON  SICKNESS  ;  for  in  that 
"  Pari/b  firfl,  and  after,  through  much  of  the 
*c  Country,  it  was  remarkable."  If  the  fame 
Temper  prevailed  then  as  does  now,  the  bed  Men 
in  the  Kingdom  might  have  been  rank'd  among 
the  propbane  Rabble.  I  don't  affirm,,  this  was  the 
Cafe  :  But  I  think,  there  ought  to  be  good  E- 
vidence  that  it  wan't  ;  and  the  rather,  becaufe 
'tis  a  known  Fa&,  that  cenforioujly  fpeaking  of 
others,  to  a  very  high  Degree,  has  been  an  infepa- 
rable  Concomitant  of  thefe  extraordinary  Seizures,  in 
all  Ages.,  and  in  all  Places. 

This  Gentleman  goes  on,  <f  The  fame  Author 
"  informs  of  many  in  FRANCE,  that  were  fo  won- 
^  derfully  affecr,ed  with  the  Preaching  of  the 
^  Gofpel,  in  the  Time  of  thofe  famous  Divines, 
"  FAREL  and  VIRET,  that,  for  a  Time  they  could 
"  not  follow  their  fecular  Bufinefs."  I  doubt 
not,  there  was  the  Prevalence  of  real  Chriftianity 
in  thefe  Times :  But  was  there  not  a  vaft  deal  of 
Entbufiafm  alfo  ?  Thefe  were  the  Times,  in  which 
Vijions  and  Voices,  extraordinary  MiJJlons  and  Revela 
tions ','  extatick  Raptures  and  Swooning*,  were  at  their 
Height  ;  and  gave  the  greatefl  Shock  to  the 
frogrefs  of  the  Reformation  of  any  Thing  that 
happened  in  that  Day.  And  though  I  deny  not, 
that  "  many  were  wonderfully  affe&ed  under  the 
Preaching  of  FAREL  and  VIRET/'  yet  I  muft  be 
excufed/  if  I  han't  the  beft  Opinion  of  the  whole 
of  this  Affeftwn  ;  Efpecially,  as  excited  by  FA 
REL  :  For  he  was  a  Man  zealous  even  to  Fury  ; 


Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture.  Page  416. 

and 


PART    I          and  dangerous  Tendency.        I? 

and  his  Preaching  fuch,  that  it  was  rather  called 
thundering  than  /peaking*  ERASMUS,  a  good  Judge 
of  Men,  and  his  Contemporary,  has  not  given  the 
heft  Charafter  of  him  f  :  Or,  if  any  fhould 
think  he  might  be  prejudiced  againft  him,  OECO- 
LAMPADIUS,  his  fail  Friend,  plainly  defcribes  him 
as  a  Man  violent  in  his  Temper,  difpos'd  to  pro 
nounce  his  Anathemaes  upon  others,  and  to  treat 
Mankind  with  Imperioufnefs  :f.  And  if  under  the 

Adminiflration 


Fuit  enim  in  hoc  Viro,  ----  Sermo  Vehementiae  pic- 
nus  ;  uttonare  potius,  quam  dicer  e  videretur,  MELCH. 
ADAM.  Fit.  Literat.  in  GERMAN.  Sub  Fit.  PHA- 
Page  115. 


f  In  his  Letter  to  the  Official  of  BESANCON,  arethefc 
Words  concerning  FAR  EL,  "  Habetis  ifthic  in  Pro- 
**  pinguo-novum  Evangeliftam,  PHARELLUM,  quo 
<?  nihil  vidi  unquam  mendacius,  virulentius,  aut  fe- 
"  ditiofius."  And  again,  in  a  Letter  to  the  Brethren 
of  the  LOWER  GERMANY,  "  Si  nunc  eft  converfus 
*'  ad  mdiorem  Frugem,  gratulor  Homini  :  Qualis 
<c  olim  erat,  Mihi  valde  difplicuit,  feditiofus,  acidae 
*e  Lingtjas,  vaniflimus.  Sic  Rem  geflit  in  Monte 
*{  PELLICARDI,  ut  bis  inde  profugerit.  BASILIEN- 
<e  sis  Senatus,  quum  cuperet,  Civitatem  efle  tutam 
«'  a  Seditione,  juffit  PHARELLUM  ire  exulatum." 
Vid.  BAYLE  Crit.  Hift.  Sub  Nom.  FAREL.  This 
learned  Writer  remarks  upon  thefe  PafTages  from  E- 
RASMUS,  *'  that  as  he  was  perfonally  offended  with 
FAREL,  we  are  not  oblig'd  to  believe,  he  lias  drawn 
his  Character  to  the  Life."  But  yet  adds,  "  we 
may  reft  perfw^ded,  our  Far  el  was  one  of  thofe,  who 
hatfe  more  need  of  the  Rein  than  the  Spur. 

%  He  fpeaks  of  him  in  that  Language,—  "  Ut  quanto 
propenfiores  ad  Violentiam,  tantomagis  ad  Lenita- 
tera  exerceas  5  Lconamque  Magnanitatem,  Colum- 

bina 


po  Things  of  a  bad  PART.    I. 

Adminiflration  of  a  Man  of  this  Turn  of  Mind, 
there  were  like  Effefts  with  thofe  among  us,  they 
might  arife  from  the  fame  Caufe.  His  Charac 
ter  indeed  feems  to  have  been  very  like  to  the 
Character  of  fome  Gentlemen,  thro'  whofe  intem 
perate  Zeal,  we  have  tbeen  thrown  into  great 
Diforders. 

The  next  Account  is  from  IRELAND,  in  1628  ; 
But  as  the  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture  has  taken  no 
Notice  of  any  ftrange  bodily  Effects.,  unlefs  thofe 
may  be  To  called,  which  relate  to  the  People's 
making  little  Ufe  of  Meat,  Drink,  or  Sleep,  and  not 
feeling  the  Need  thereof,  through  a  Senfe  of  GOD  ; 
Thefe  only  are  mentioned,  but  in  a  more  advan- 
tagious  Manner,  than  by  the  original  Writer.  For 
t>e  ipeaks  of  fome  only  whofe  Cafe  this  was,  not 
many.  And  he  tells  us,  in  general,  how  long  it 
was  they  went  without  a  full  Supply  of  thefe 
Recruits,  and  does  not  leave  the  Matter  at  large. 
It  was,  in  that  Day,  according  to  him,  a  fweet 
eafy  Thing  for  Chriflians  to  go  30,  40  Miles,  to 
the  folemn  Communions,  and  to  continue  there 
from  the  Time  they  came,  till  they  returned,  with 
but  little  of  thefe  Supplies  ;  and  this,  in  Regard 
of  SOME,  without  their  feeling  the  Need  thereof, 
their  Souls  were  fo  filled  with  a  Senfe  of  GOD  ; 

which 


bina  Modeftia  frangas.  Duel,  non  trahi,  volunt  Ho 
mines.—  Lib.  4.  Epift.  Pag.  916.  And  in  another 
Letter,—  Evangelizatum,  non  maledi&um,  miffus  es. 
Condono,  imo  lando,  Zelum  :  Modo  ne  defideretur 
Manfuetudo.  Da  Operam,  me  Prater,  ut  Spiritum 
meum  exhilares,  hoc  Nuncio  ;  quod  inTemporefuo 
Vinum  et  Oleum  infundas  :  quod  Evangeliftam,  non 
tyrannicum  Legiflatprem  pneftes."  Lab,  4. 
956. 


PART    I.          0»rf  dangerous  Tendency,        91 

which  is  no  incredible  Account,  unlefs  they  tar 
ried  longer.,  or  eat,  or  drank,  orjlept,  in  a  lefs  Pro 
portion,  than  need  be  fuppofed. 

The  Story  of  CATHERINE  BRETTERGH,  I  pafs  o- 
ver  with  this  Remark  only,  that  if  nothing  had 
appeared  in  tbefe  Times,  but  what  is  here  record 
ed  of  her,  I  believe  no  ferioas  Perfon  would 
have  cried  out  of  Wildnefs  and  Diftr  action ;  tho' 
.perhaps,  they  might  have  thought,  there  had 
been,  in  fuch  Inftances,  fome  Mixture  of  that 
which  is  Humane. 

Thefe  are  the  Inflances  brought  from  the 
Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture  :  And  I  Ihould  have 
had,  I  own,,  a  much  better  Opinion  of  them, 
if  the  Author  had  not  betrayed,  by  many  of  the 
Stories  contain'd  in  his  Book,  a  Turner  Mind, 
too  eafily  difpofing  him  to  a  Belief  of  Jlic&  Extra- 
ordinaries,  as  few  befides  himfe.f  would  have  re 
lated  to  the  World  :  Nor  can  I  account  for  it, 
that,  among  all  the  wonderful  Things  he  has 
recorded  as  Examples  of  a  prophetical  and  apoftolic 
Spirit,  not  fo  much  as  one  is  mentioned  ;  unlefs 
it  was  thought,  the  mentioning  of  tbefe  might 
have  lefien'd  the  Credit  of  the  whole. 

This  Gentleman  now  prefents  us  with  a  Letter 
from  his  honoured  Father,  wherein  we  are  told, 
from  a  Letter  he  faw,  which  carne  from  SCOT 
LAND,  that  at  the  Preaching  of  a  Sermon  in  EDIN- 
BURG,  the  People  were  fo  affe&ed,  that  there 
was  a  great  and  loud  Cry  through  the  AJfemhly. 
And  if  the  Faft  be  allow'd,  is  it  poffible,  from 
fuch  a  general  Account,  to  form  a  Judgment,  as 
to  its  true  Origin  1  1  hat  there  have  been  Out- 
fry  s  in  Congregations,  in  diverfe  Parts  of  the 

Wo:ld, 


92  Things  of  a  bid  PART    I. 

World,  and  at  diverfe  Times,  every  Body  knows 
that  is  acquainted  with  the  Hiftory  of  the  Church. 

The  Author  of  the  wonderful  Narrative  has 
mentioned  a  confiderable  Number  of  fuch  ;  but 
an  Accouut  of  thofe  Out-crys  are  here  expefted, 
which  may  juftly  be  fuppofed  to  be  of  a  Divine 
Rife.  And  can  this  be  determined,  unlefs  we  know 
fomething  in  particular,  of  the  Means,  Manner, 
and  afier-Effefts  ?  "Tis  impoffible.  And  the 
fame  may  be  faid  of  what  is  further  related  a- 
bout  the  famous  Mr.  ROGERS  of  DEDHAM  in  ENG 
LAND  ;  tho'  he  was  fuch  a  Speaker,  that  if,  under 
his  Preaching,  People  had  fometimes  cried  out,  it 
ought  not  to  be  at  once  concluded,  that  it  was 
owing  to  the  extraordinary  Power  of  GO/X  For 
this  is  an  Effett,  Voice  and  Action  may  fome 
times  produce,  as  we  (hall  fee  by  and  by. 

The  Account  from  Mr.  FLAVEL,  I  leave  as  it 
ftands,  with  only  faying,  that  good  Men  may 
differ  in  their  Sentiments  as  to  the  Caufe  of  fuch 
Effefts  ;  and  if  any  (hould  think,  they  are  not 
to  be  wholly  afcribed  to  a  divine  Influence,  I  would 
not  be  too  peremptory  in  faying,  their  Judgment 
was  not  according  to  Truth. 

The  Perfons  "  in  NORTHAMPTON,  and  fome  of 
the  neighbouring  Towns 9  who  formerly  cried  out, 
and  fell  down,"  I  never  heard  of  'till  now  :  Nor 
of  thofe,  "  whofe  Flefh  waxed  cold  and  benum- 
med,  whofe  Hands  were  clinch'd,  and  their  Bo 
dies  fet  into  Convulflons  ;"  Neither  do  I  think, 
that  fuch  Accounts  tend  much  to  the  Credit  of 
Religion. 

But 


PART    I*  and  dangerous  Tendency.        93 

But  thefelnftances  notwithstanding,  and  the  wo/2 
that  can  be  made  of  the  foregoing  ones,  it  muft 
be  own'd,  that  fuch  bodily  Effetts  as  have  prevail 
ed  in  the  Land,  have  always  been  rare  among 
fober  Chriilians  :  Whereas,  They  are  the  my 
Things,  by  which,  thofe  of  another  Complexion  have, 
ever  been  diflingtiifiied.  Whole  Volumes  have 
been  wrote  containing  Accounts  in  this  Kind  : 
And  whatever  Jirange  Effetts,  upon  Men's  Bodies, 
have  been  common  amcng  us,  the  fame  have  been 
common  alfo  among  this  Sort  of  Perfons,  in  all 
Parts,  and  Ages,  of  the  World  :  Nor  is  there 
any  Fa6t  more  notorious  in  the  Hiftory  of  the 
Church.  But  this  I  mention  only  as  a  Circumftance 
worthy  of  Confederation  with  fome  others,  that: 
are  to  follow.  W7herefore  to  go  on, 

The  Way  in  which  thefe  Fears  have  been  excit 
ed,  in  many  Places,  is  not,  in  my  Opinion,  the 
beft  Evidence  in  Favour  of  them.  People  have 
been  too  much  applied  to,  as  though  the  Preacher 
rather  aimed  at  putting  their  Paffions  into  a  Fer 
ment,  than  filling  them  with  fuch  a  reasonable  Sol- 
licitude,  as  is  the  Effect  of  a  juft  Exhibition  of  the 
Truths  of  GOD  to  their  Underflandings.  I  have 
myfelf  been  prefent,  when  an  Air  of  Serioufnefs 
reigned  vifibly  through  a  whole  Congregation  : 
They  were  all  Silence  and  Attention  ;  having 
their  Eye  faflned  on  the  Miniffcer,  as  though  they 
would  catch  every  Word  that  came  from  his 
Mouth  :  And  yet,  becaufe  they  did  not  cry  out, 
or  fvooon  away,  they  were  upbraided  with  their 
Hardnefs  of  Heart  and  rank'd  among  thofe  who 
were  Sermon-proof,  Gofpel- glutted  ;  and  every 
Topic  made  Ufe  of,  with  all  the  Voice  and  Acti 
on  the  Speaker  was  Mailer  of,  to  bring  forward 
&  general  Shriek  in  the  Affembly  ;  Nay,  in  or 
der 


94  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

der  to  give  the  People  a  plain  Intimation  of  what 
he  wanted,  this  fame  Preacher  fometimes  told 
them  of  the  wonderful  Effects  wrought  by  the 
Sermon,  he  was  then  preaching  ;  how  in  fuch 
a  Congregation,  they  were  all  melted  and  diflbl- 
ved,  and  in  another 'fo  over-poured,  that  they 
could  not  help  f creaming. out  $  or  falling  down,  as 
though  they  had  been  ftruck  dead.  Nay  one  of 
the  Preachers,  in  this  new  PFay,  was  fo  open  fome 
Months  ago,  as  in  plain  Words,  to  call  upon  the 
People  to  cry  out,  and  plead  with  them  to  do  fo  : 
This  he  did  three  feveral  Times  in  "one  Sermon, 
and  had  upon  it  fo  many  loud  Cries.  And  'tis 
too  well  known  to  need  much  to  be  faid  upon  it, 
that  the  Gentlemen,  whofe  preaching  has  been 
moft  remarkably  accompanied  with  thefe  Extraor- 
dinaries,  not  only  ufe,  in  their  AddrefTes  to  the 
People,  all  the  terrible  Words  they  can  get  toge 
ther,  but  in  fuch  a  Manner,  as  naturally  tends  to 
put  weaker  Minds  out  of  Pofleffioii  of  themfelves* 
A  Friend  in  the  Country,  in  a  Letter  to  me,  up 
on  thefe  Matters,  exprefles  himfelf  in  thefe 
Words,  "  Under  the  Preaching  and  Exhortati- 
*c  ons  of  thefe  Itinerants  and  Exhort  ers,  (  the 
"  Manner  of  which  is  frequently  very  boiflerous 
tt  and  {hocking,  and  adapted  to  the  belt  of  their 
"  Skill  to  alarm  and  furprize  the  Imagination 
l(t  and  Paffions  )  'tis  no  unufual  Thing  for  Per- 
cc  fons  to  be  plunged  into  the  utmoft  Anxiety 
ff  and  Diftrefs,  which  is  often  attended  with  a 
€(  Trembling  of  the  Body,  fainting,  falling  down, 
"  &c.  The  •Preacher  now  frequently  grows 
tf  more  tempeftuouc,  and  dreadful  in  his  Manner 
"  of  Addrefs,  and  feems  to  endeavour  all  he  can 
"  to  increafe,  and  fpread  the  rifing  Confternati- 
"  on,  and  Terror  of  their  Souls  ;  which,  by  this 
"  Means,  is  fometimes  fpread  over  a  great  Part 

•f 


PART.    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         95 

€€  of  an  Affembly,   in  a  Tew    Minutes  from  its 

€(  firfl  Appearance.     I   have  feen  the  ftruck  (  as 

"  they  are  called  )  and  diftreffed  brought  toge- 

<e  ther,  from  the  feveral  Parts  of  the  Affembly, 

"  into  the  fquare  Body  by  themfelves,   and  two 

<f  or  three  Perfons  at  Work  upon  them  at  once, 

"  fmiting,  flamping  and  crying  out  to  them  with 

"  a  mighty  Voice  >  in  the  moft  terrible  Manner  and 

t(  Language ;     the  poor  Creatures  fainting,  fcreacb- 

"  ing  and  bitterly  crying  out  under  them.     You 

(<  may  eaflly  think,  what  Terrors  of  Imaginati- 

"  on,  Diftra6lion  of  Paffions,  and  Perplexity  of 

"  Thoughts,  they  endur'd.     I  was  laft  Summer 

"  at  an  Evening  Lecture,  at  a  neighbouring  Pa- 

"  rim,  at  which,  one  of  the  moft  famous  Preach- 

<(  ers  in  the  new  Method  carried  on.     He  had  en- 

"  tered  but  a  little  Way  in  his  Sermon,  (  which 

"  was  delivered  in  a  Manner  fufficiently  terrible) 

"  when  there  began  to  be  fome  Commotion  a- 

€f  mong  the  young  Women.       This  infpir'd   him 

t(  with  new  Life.     He  lifted  up  his  Voice  like  a 

(f  Trumpet,  plentifully  poured  down  Terrors  up- 

"  on  them.     About  half  a  Score  of  young  Wo- 

"  men  were  prefently  thrown  into  violent  hifteric 

<(  Fits.    I  carefully  obferved  them.     When  he 

(f  grew  calm  and  moderate  in  his  Manner,  tho* 

<c  the  Things  deliverd  were  equally  Awakening, 

"  they  by  Degrees  grew  calm  and  ftill  ;    when 

<f  he  again  affum'd  the  terrible,   and   fpake   like 

"  Thunder,  the  like  violent  Struggling^  immediately 

"  returned    upon  them,  from    Time  to  Time. 

"  Sometimes  he  put  a  mighty  Emphafis  upon  lit- 

«  tie  unmeaning  Words,  and  delivered  a  Sentence 

*<  of  no  Importance  with  a  mighty  Energy,  yet 

"  the  fenfible  Effeft  was  as  great  as  when  the 

*c  moft  awful  Truth  was  brought  to   View.   " 

This  Account  may  be  relied  on.    For  it  is  given 

by 


9(>  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

by  one  capable  of  making  Obfervation,  and  who 
bears  as  unblemifh'd  a  Charafter  as  moft  Mmiftcrs 
in  the  Country. 

Agreable  whereto  is  the  Account  we  have 
printed  in  the  BOSTON  Poft-Boy  f;  in  which  the 
Writer^  fpeaking  of  the  Itinerant  Preachers,  among 
other  Things,  obferves>  f(  Their  main  Defign  in 
"  preaching,  feems  not  fo  much  to  inform  Men's 
"  Judgments,  as  to  terrify  and  affright  their  Ima- 
ff  gination  ;  by  awful  IVords  and  frightful  Repre- 
<f  Jentations,  to  fet  the  Congregation  into  hideous 
"  Shrieks  and  Out-cries.  And  to  this  End,  in 
f6  every  Place  where  they  come,  they  reprefent 
<c  that  GOD  is  doing  extraordinary  Things  in 
"  other  Places,  and  that  they  are  fome  of  the  laft 
"  hardened  Wretches  that  fland  out  ,•  that  this 
fC  is  the  laft  Call  that  ever  they  are  likely  to  have; 
(f  that  they  are  now  hanging  over  the  Pit  of  De- 
fC  ftruftion,  and  juft  ready,  this  Moment,  to  fall 
(f  into  it  ;  that  Hell-fire  now  flafhes  in  their 
f<  Faces  ;  and  that  the  Devil  now  ftands  ready 
f(  to  feize  upon  them,  and  carry  them  to  Hell 
f(  And  they  will  oftentimes  repeat  the  awful 
ff  Words,  Damn'd  !  Damrid  !  Damnd  !  thre< 
f(  or  four  Times  over." 


'Tis  well  known,  no  Preacher,  in  the  new 
has  been  more  noted  for  his  Inftrumentality  in  pro 
ducing  thefe  Scbriekings  and  Paintings  and  Trem 
blings,  than  the  Rev.  Mr.  JAMES  DAVENPORT  of 
SOUTHHOLD  ;  and  yet,  one  of  the  Minifters  of  this 
Town,  (  who  has  always  been  a  great  Friend 
to  that  which  he  efteemed,  the  good  Work  of 
GOD  going  on  in  the  Land)  having  been,  one 


t  Numb  39 1-  Night, 


PART      I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         97 

Night,  a  Witnefs  to  his  inexpreffible  Manage 
ment  among  the  People,  and  the  terrible  Effe6ls 
confequent  thereupon  in  their  Screaming  and  Crying* 
out)  and  the  like,  thought  himfelf  obliged  in  Con- 
fcience  to  go  to  him  the  next  Day,  and  declare 
againfl  fuch  a  Method  of  a6ling :  And  according 
ly  went,  and  told  him  to  his  Face  (  as  he  himfelf 
inform'd  me  )  that  in  the  Appearance  of  the  laft 
Night)  he  was  perfuaded,  there  was  no  Hand  of  the 
SPIRIT  of  GOD  ;  and  that  it  was  no  other  than 
might  have  been  expefted,  if  a  Man  raving  mad 
from  Bedlam,  had  gone  among  the  People,  and  behaved 
as  he  had  done.  And  one  of  the  Charges  exhibited 
and  prov'd  againft  this  Mr.  DAVENPORT,  when 
brought  before  the  General  Ajjcmbly  of  CONNEC 
TICUT,  was,  (f  That  he  endeavoured  by  unwar* 
"  rantable  Means  to  terrify,  and  affe6t  his  Hear- 
"  ers.  And  that, 

"  (i.)  By  pretending  fome  extraordinary  Dif- 
6f  covery  and  Aflbrance  of  the  very  near  Ap- 
fc  proach  of  the  End  of  the  World  ;  and  that 
"  though  he  did  not  aflign  the  very  Day,  yet 
"  that  he  then  lately  had  it  clearly  open'd  to 
"  him,  and  ilroiigly  inpreft  upon  his  Mind,  that 
"  in  a  very  ftiort  Time  all  thefe  Things  would 
"  be  involv'd  in  devouring  Flames*" 

N.  B.  This  fame  ImpreJJion,  he  told  the  People 
at  BOSTON,  he  had  lately  had  upon  his  Mind,  and 
was  as  fure  the  Day  of  Judgment  was  at  the  Door, 
as  of  the  Things  he  then  faw  with  his  Eyes  ;  and 
made  Ufe  of  this  accordingly,  as  an  Argument  to 
work  upon  their  Paffions. 

"  (2)  By  an  indecent  and  affe£led  Imitation 
«  of  the  Agony  and  PaJJlon  of  our  blcfled  SA- 

H 


98  Things  of  a  bad  PA&T    L 

<f  VIOUR  ;  and  alfo  by  Voice  and  Gefture,  of  the 
ff  Surprife,  Horror,  and  Amazement,  of  Perfons 
"  fuppos'd  to  be  fentenced  to  eternal  Mifery. 
"  And, 

"  (3)  By  a  too  peremptory  and  unconditioned 
( c  denouncing  Damnation  againft  fuch  of  his  Au* 
"  ditory,  as  he  look'd  upon  as  OPPOSERS  ;  ve- 
"  hemently  crying  out,  that  he  faw  Hell-Flames 
"  flafking  in  their  Faces,  and  they  were  now  !  now  ! 
*'  dropping  down  to  Hell  !  And  alfo  added,  LORD 
"  thou  knew  eft,  that  there  are  many  in  that  Galle- 
*(  ry,  and  in  thefe  Seats,  that  are  now  dropping 
"  down  to  Hell  !"  * 

An  Account  of  Mr.  D-— T'S  Preaching,  not  al 
together  unlike  this,  a  Gentleman,  in  CONNECTI 
CUT,  wrote  to  one  of  the  Minifters  in  thjs  Town, 

upon  his  own  Knowledge,  in  thefe  Words,  

(f  At  length,'  he  turn'd  his  Difcourfe  to  others, 
€(  and  with  the  utmoft  Strength  of  his  Lungs  ad- 
* '  dreft  himfelf  to  the  Congregation,  under  thefe 
f<  and  fuch-like  Expreffions  ;  viz.  You  poor  un- 
"  converted  Creatures,  in  the  Seats,  in  the  Pews, 
"  in  the  Galleries,  I  wonder  you  don't  drop  in- 
"  to  Hell  !  It  would  not  furprife  me,  I  fhould 
"  not  wonder  at  it,  if  I  fhouid  fee  you  drop 
*c  down  now,  this  Minute  into  HelL  You  Phari- 
<(  fees,  Hypocrites,  now,  now,  now,  you  are  go- 
"  ing  right  into  the  Bottom  of  Hell.  I  wonder 
*f  you  don't  drop  into  Hell  by  Scores,  and  Hun** 
<c  dreds,  &c.  And  in  this  terrible  Manner*  he 
«  ended  the  Sermon."  'Tis  then  added,  "  Af- 


See  the  BOSTON  Weekly-News-Paper.    Numb. 

1997^ 

ter 


I.         And  dangerous  Tendency.          95 

«  ter  a  fhort  Prayer  >  he  called  for  all  the  Dif- 
"  treft  Perfons  ( which  were  near  twenty )  into 
"  the  foremoft  Seats.  Then  he  came  out  of  the 
"  Pulpit,  and  flripped  off  his  upper  Garments, 
t(  and  got  up  into  the  Seats,  and  leapt  up  and 
<(  down  fometime,  and  clapt  his  Hands^  and  cri- 
fc  ed  out  in  thofe  Words,  the  War  goes  on^ 
(C  the  Fight  goes  on,  the  Devil  goes  down,  the 
<f  Devil  goes  down  ;  and  then  betook  himfelf 
s<  to  ftamping  and  /creaming  moft  dreadfully. " 

And  what  is  it  more  than  might  be  expefted, 

to  fee  People  fo  affrightned  as  to  fall  into  Shrieks 

and  fits,  under  fuch  Methods  as  thefe  ?    Efpe- 

cially,  when  they  have  firft  been  potted  of  the 

Notion,  that  the  Perfons  who  make  Ufe  of  them, 

are  Men  of  GOD  in  an  extraordinary  Senfe  ;     as 

being   fent  immediately,   as  it  were,    to  deliver 

his  MeiTages  to  them.     The  Mind  is  now  pre^ 

I  pared  to  receive  almoft  any  Impreffion  from  this 

|  Kind  of  Perfons  ,*     and  'tis  no  Wonder^  if^  by 

i  their  terrifying  Voice  and  Action,  People  are  thrown 

|  into  Agitations  and  Convulfions. 

I  doubt  not,  but  the  divine  SPIRIT  often  ac 
companies  the  preached  Wordy  fo  as  that,  by  his 
Influence,  Sinners  are  awakened  to  a  Senfe  of  Siri, 
and  filled  with  deep  Diftrefs  of  Soul  :  But  the 
lleffed  SPIRIT  muft  not,  at  Random,  be  made 
the  Author  of  all  thofe  Surprifes,  operating  iri 
flrange  Effefts  upon  the  Body,  which  may  be  feeri 
among  People.  They  may  be  produced  other' 
Ways  ;  yea,  I  truft,  that  has  been  already 
faid,  which  makes  it  evident^  they  have  actually 
been  produced,  even  by  the  wild  and  extravagant 
1  Vondutt  of  fome  over-heated  Preachers* 

H  &'  M 


loo  Things  of  a  bad  PART.    L 

It  will,  doubtlefs,  be  here  faid,  thefe  Out-cries 
have  fometimes  arifen,  when  no  other  than  the 
great 'Truths  of  the  Gofpel  have  been  urg'd  up 
on  the  Confciences  of  Sinners  ;  and  this,  in  a 
becoming  Manner,  and  by  Preachers  who  have  not 
been  noted,  either  for  the  Loudnefs  of  their  Voice, 
or  the  Boifteroiifnefs  of  their  Action. 

In  Reply  whereto,  I  deny  not  but  this  may 
have  been  the  Cafe  :  But,  at  the  fame  Time, 
think  it  worthy  of  Notice,  that  thefe  bodily  Ef 
fects  were,  at  FIRST,  produced,  fo  far  as  I  can 
Jearn,  ONLY  by  fuch  Preachers  as  were  remarkable 
for  their  terrible  fpeaking,  both  as  to  Matter,  and 
Manner  :  Nor  do  I  remember  an  Inftance,  in 
the  Country,  of  Out- cries,  by  any  other  Sort  of 
Preachers,  'till  the  Noife  of  fuch  extraordinary  Ef 
fects,  as  Arguments  of  an  immediate  divine  Power, 
in  one  Place  and  another,  had  alarmed  the 
People,  and  made  many  of  them  think,  it  was 
neceflary  they  alfo  mould  be  in  like  Circum- 
ftances. 

Befides,  when  thefe  Out-cries  have  been  effec 
ted  by  your  more  moderate  Preachers,  (which,  by 
the  Way,  comparatively  fpeaking,  has  been  a  rare 
Thing  )  have  they  not  begun  with  one  or  two 
only,  and  from  them  been  propagated  to  o- 
thers  ?  Nay,  have  not  thefe,  from  whom  they 
took  Rife,  ufually,  been  fuch  as  were  before  ac- 
cuflomed  to  the  Way  of  J Ir  earning  out  ?  And 
were  they  not,  at  firft,  brought  to  it,  under  a 
more  terrible  Kind  of  Preaching  ?  I  believe, 
upon  Examination,  this  will  be  found  to  be  nearly 
the  Truth  of  the  Cafe. 

I 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency,        lox 

I  ftiall  only  add  further, '  that  however  diflin- 
guiihed  the  Minifler  who  has  preached  has  been, 
for  his  exemplary  Piety,  and  fowling  Gifts  ', 
however  agreeable  to  the  Mind  of  CHRIST  he 
has  delivered  the  Truths  of  the  Gofpel  ;  and 
however  warmly  he  may  have  addreft  him- 
felf  to  the  People's  Paffions,  if  he  wan't  before 
known  to  have  been  a  Favourer  of  thefe  Outcries, 
j,  he  has  not  produced  them  :  Nor  do  J  believe, 
!  an  Inflance  can  be  given  in  the  Country,  of  their 
being  brought  forward  by  any  Minifler,  of  whom 
the  People  had  a  Sufpicion,  that  he  did  npt  like 
them  :  '  Which  to  me,  is  not  the  belt  Argument 
of  their  being  fo  wholly  owing  to  the  divine 
Fo-wer,  as  fome  may  be  too  ready  to  imagine. 
But  to  proceed. 

Another  Thing  that  very -much  leflens  my  Opi 
nion  of  thefe  religious  Fears,  with  the  ftrange  Ef- 
fecls  of  them  is,  that  they  are  produced  by  the 
;  Exhorters  ',  and  this,  in  all  Parts  of  the  Land  ;  and 
it  may  be^  in  more  numerous  Inflances,  than  by  the 
Miniflers  themfelves.  And  if  thefe  bodily  Agitati 
ons  arife  from  the  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT,  when 
produc'd  by  the  Miniflers,  they  are  lo  when  pro 
duced  by  the  Exhort ers.  .  The  Appearance  is  the 
fame  in  both  Cafes  ;  the  like  inward  Diflrcfs  is 
effe6led,  and  difcovers  it  felf  in  like  Cryings  and 
Swoonings  :  Nor  is  there  any  Reafon  to  think 
well,  in  the  general,  of  the  one,  and  not  of  the 
other.  And  yet,  fome  of  the  bed  Friends  of  this 
Work,  both  .among  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  think  ill 
of  thefe  Things,  as  brought  forward  by  the  Ex- 
horters  :  Nay,  one  of  the  greateffc  Friends  to 
the  good  Work,  among  the  Miniflers  in  Town, 
freely  declar'd  concerning  one  of  thefe  Exh oners, 
who  c^ine  into,  this  Place.,  and  began  the  Qui 
ll  3  arics 


102  Things  of  a  bad  PART     I. 

cries  we  were  before  Strangers  to,  that  he  feared 
the  Hand  of  Satan  was  in  his  coming  here   to 
throw  Difgrace  on  the  Work  of  GOD  ;     fug- 
gefting,  that  the  Wonders  wrought  by  the  Magi 
cians  in  Egypt  were,  to  all  Appearance,  like  the 
Miracles  wrought  by  MOSES.     I  fee  no  Reafon  for 
fuch  a  Remark.     The  vifible  Effects  of  this  young 
Man's   exhorting  here,  and  in  the  neighbouring 
Town  of  DorchefttFy  were  jufl  the  fame  that  are 
wrought  by  the  mofl  famous  Preachers  in  the  new 
Way  :     And  where  there  is  no  difcernable  Dif 
ference,  there  is  no  Ground,  in  Reafon   or  Scrip 
ture,  to  fpeak  well  of  the  one,  and  ill  of  the  o- 
ther.     Such  are  certainly  inconfiftent  with  them- 
felves,  who  attribute  thefe  Extraordinaries,  as  bro't 
forward  by  the  Exhorters,  to  a  Spirit  of  Delufion, 
or  Enthufiafm,  or  any  other  inferior  Caufe,  ;   while 
they  can't  bear  to  hear  a  Word  faid  againft  them, 
when  they  are  the  Produce  of  thofe  who  are  call 
ed  Minifters.     For  my  felf,  I  put  them  both  on 
the  fame  Foot,  as  fuppofing  they  both  arife  from 
the  fame  Caufe  :     Only,  the  Appearance  of  thefe 
Things,  in  the  fame  Kind  and  Degree,  when  the 
Ex  barters  are    the   Carriers   on,    admin  ifters  jufl 
Ground  of  Fear,  whether  they  are,  in  general,  fo 
much  owing  to  the  extraordinary  Influence  of  the 
divine  SPIRIT,  as  fome  may  be  too  ready  to  i- 
rnagine.     If  they  are  not  owing  to  the  wonderful 
Operation  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,  when  the  Exhorters 
are  the  Occaflon  of  them,  they  may  eafily  be  ac 
counted  for,  when  produced  by  others  :     And  it 
can't  well  be  fuppofed,  there  fhould  be  the  ex 
traordinary   Concurrence   of   the   bleffed    SPIRIT 
with    thefe    Exhorters.     For  who  are     they  but 
fuch,    concerning  whom  the  infpird  dpoftle   has 
faid,  Not  a  Novice   left  be  be  lifted  up  qtitb  Pride, 
and  fall  into  the  Condemnation  of  the  Devil  ?     Who 

are 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.          103 

are  they  but  fuch,  of  whom  the  fame  Apoflle  fays, 
they  walk  diforderly,  working  not  at  all,  but  are  Bufie- 
Bodies  ?     With  Refpedl  to  whom,  he  gives  Com 
mandment  by  the   LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,    that 
with  Quietnefs  they  work  and  eat  their' own  Bread. 
"Who  are  they  but  fuch,  as  fet  themfelves  up  in 
Cppofition  to  their  Pajlors^  though  found  in  the 
Faith  and  of  a  good  Converfation,  contrary  to  the 
Order  of  the  Gofpel,  and  to  the  Difturbance  of  the 
Churches  ?     And   can  it  be  thought,   that  GOD 
would  countenance  the  Conduct  of  this  Kind  of 
Perfons,  by  extraordinary  Teflimonies  of  his  Pre- 
fence  from  Heaven  ;     and  this,  while  they  are  in 
a  Method  of  acting  that  dire6tly  contradicts  his 
own  Appointments  ?     Befides,  may  it  not  be  faid 
of  thefe  Exhortersy  in  the  general,  that  they  are 
very  Babes  in   Understanding, .  needing  themfelves 
to  be  taught  which  be  the  firfl  Principles  of  the  O- 
racles  of  GOD  ?    That  they  are  over-forward  and 
conceited  ,•     taking   that  upon  them,,  they  have 
neither  a  Call  to,  nor  Qualifications  for  ?     Yea,  is 
it  not  too  true  of  fome  of  them,  that  they  have 
a£led  under  the  Influence  of  an  over-heated  Ima 
gination  ;   -or  what  is  worfe,  from  low  and  bafe 
Views  ?     This  is  now  fo  evident,  that  there  is 
no  Room  for  Debate  upon  the  Matter.     And  of 
all  Men,  thefe,  I  fhould  think,  are  the  mod  un 
likely  to   be  diftinguim'd   with  the   extraordinary 
ft\ fence  of  the  HOLY  GHOST. 

\ 

There  is  yet  another  Thing  that  makes  it  look 
as  though  thefe  Terrors  might  arife  from  a  lower 
Caufe,  than  that  which  is  Divine  ;  and  that  is, 
their,  happening  in  the  Night.  I  don't  mean, 
that  there  han't  been  Out-cries  in  the  Day  Time  ; 
but  the  Night  is  more  commonly  the  Seafon,  when 
thefe  Things  are  to  be  feen3  and  in  their  greateft 
H  4  Per- 


1  04  Thing  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

Perfeftion,  They  are  more  frequent,  and  more 
general,  and  rais'd  to  a  higher  Degree,  at  the 
Night  Meetings,  when  there  are  but  two  or  three 
Candles  in  the  Place  of  Worfhip,  or  they  are 
wholly  in  the  dark.  I  have  often,  in  Converfa- 
tion,  heard  this  Remark  made  by  thofe,  who 
have  been  in  the  Way  of  thefe  Things  ,•  and 
the  fame  Obfervations  I  find  in  the  Letters  that 
have  been  fent  me.  Says  one,  fpeaking  of  thefe 
Extraordinaries,  "  They  are  more  in  the  Night 
than  in  the  Day  :"  Another,  "  They  operate 
mod  flrongly  in  their  Night  Meetings  ;  "  Ano 
ther  ftill,  "  They  never  happen'd  [this  mufl  be 
underftood  of  the  particular  Place,  he  is  giving 
an  Account  of]  to  any  confiderable  Degree,  'till 
the  Darknefs  of  the  Night  came  on."  And  why 
fhould  thefe  ftrange  Effetts  be  more  frequent,  and 
general,  in  the  Gloominefs  of  the  .Night,  if  they 
were  produc'd  by  the  Agency  of  the  Divine  SPI 
RIT  ?  Does  he  need  the  Advantage  of  the 
dark  to  fill  Men's  Hearts  with  Terror  ?  This  is 
certainly  a  fhrew'd  Sign,  that  there  is  more  of 
the  Humane  in  thefe  Things,  than  fome  are  will* 
ing  to  own.  We  know  every  Thing  appears 
more  difmal  in  the  Night  :  Perfons  are  more 
apt  to  be  ftruck  with  Surprife  and  Conflernati- 
on  :  And  as  this  is  a  good  Reafon,  it  may 
be  the  true  one,  why  a  doleful  Voice,  and  fright 
ful  Managements  may  take  Effe6l  more  in  the  Night 
than  at  other  Times. 


Tie  Subjects  ^\fo  of  thefe  Terrors  may  lead  us 
to  make  the  like  Judgment  about  them  ;  and 
thefe  are  Children,  Women,  and  youngerly  Perfons. 
Not  that  others  han't  been  wrought  upon.  In- 
flances  there  have  been  of  Men  ;  and  thefe, 
both  middle-aged,  and  advanced  in  Tears^  who  have 

both 


PART    L          and  dangerous  Tendency.        105 

both  cried  out,  and  fallen  down  :  But  'tis  among 
Children,  young  People  and  Women,  whofe  Paffions 
are  foft  and  tender,  and  more  eaiily  thrown  into 
a  Commotion,  that  thefe  Things  chiefly  pre 
vail.  I  know,  'tis  thus  in  thofe  Places,  where  I 
have  had  Opportunity  to  make  Inquiry.  And 
from  the  Accounts  tranfmitted  to  me  from 
Friends,  in  other  Places,  it  appears  to  have  been 
fo  among  them  alfo.  The  Account  I  have  from 
one  Part  of  the  Country  is,  "  The  Operation  is 
principally  among  Women  and  Girls  m"  From  an 
other,  *'  The  Perfons  wrought  upon  were  gene 
rally  Women  and  Children  ;"  From  another, 
"  Thefe  Effects  have  been  moil  frequent  in  Wo 
men  and  young  Perfons."  And  are  not  thefe  the 
very  Perfons,  whofe  Paffions  according  to  Nature, 
it  might  be  expected,  would  be  alarmed  ?  If 
young  People  are,  in  a  moral  Senfe,  more  like 
ly  to  be  wrought  upon  by  Divine  Grace,  than  old, 
I  fee  not  that  this  is  the  Cafe  with  Refpe6t  to 
Women  in  Diftinclion  from  Men.  Men  may  as 
eaiily  be  overcome  by  the  Power  of  the  HOLY 
GHOST,  as  Women  ;  and  arc  as  likely,  in  a  mo 
ral  View  of  the  Matter,  to  be  fo  :  And  what 
ihould  then  be  the  Reafon  that  they  fliould  be, 
as  it  were,  overlook'd,  and  Women  generally  the 
Perfons  thrown  into  thefe  Agitations  and  Ter 
rors  ?  It  certainly  looks,  as  tho'  the  Weaknefs  of 
their  Nerves,  and  from  hence  their  greater  Lia- 
blenefs  to  be  furpris'd,  and  overcome  with 
Fear,  was  the  true  Account  to  be  given  of  this 
Matter, 

Moreover,   the  Way  in   which   thefe    Terrors 
fpread  themfelves   is  a  Circumflance,   that  does 
not   much    favour    their   divine    Origin.       They 
feem  to  be  fuddenly  propagated,  from  one  to  an 
other 


J05  Things  of  a  ted  PART    I. 

other,  as   in   a   great   Fright  or  Conflernation. 
Ti.ev  often  begin  with  a  Tingle  Perfon,  a  Child, 
cr  Woman,  or  10</,  whofe  Shrieks  fet   others   a 
Shrieking  ;     and  fo  the  Shrieks  catch  from  one  to 
another,  /till  the  whole  Congregation  is  alarmed, 
and  fuch  an  awful  Scene, many  Times,  open'd,  as 
no  Imagination  can  paint  to  the  Life.      To  this 
Purpofe  is  that  in  the  BosTON-Poft-Boy  *,  when  af 
ter  an  Account  of  the  terrible  Language  made  Ufe 
of  by  the  Itinerants,  'tis  added,  "This  frequently 
5*  frights    the    little   Children,    and   fets   them    a 
€f  Screaming  ;     and  that  frights  their  tender  Mo- 
€f  thers,   and   fets  them    to   Screaming,   and    by 
<f  Degrees  fpreads  over  a  great  Part  of  the  Con- 
"  gregation  :     And  40,  50,  or  an  ioo,  of  them 
€(  fcreaming  all  together,   makes  fuch   an  awful 
<e  and  hideous  Noife  as  will  make  a  Man's  Hair 
((  ftand  an  End.    Some  will  faint  away,  fall  down 
<(  upon  the  Floor,  wallow  and  foam.     Some  Wo- 
"  men  will  rend  off  their  Caps,  Handkerchiefs, 
"  and  other  Clothes,  tear  their  Hair  down  about 
"  their  Ears,  and  feem  perfectly  bereft  of  their 
«  Reafon.J>  f 

Appearances  in  this  Kind,  I  have  often  had  an 
Account  of  from  thofe  who  have  been  prefent 
at  them  ;  and  as  begun  by  one  or  two  Perfons 
at  fir  (I  :  And  where  this  has  been  the  Cafe, 
there  is  no  great  Difficulty  in  finding  out  the 

Caufe 


*  Numb.  391. 

•f-  I  ihould  not  have  inferted  this  Account,  it  looks  fo 
txtravag<?nt)but  that  I  have  now  by  me  two  Letters^ 
from  Gentlemen  of  known  Worth  and  Integrity?  in 
the  Minijlry,  who  particularly  refer  to  it,  and  fay, 
'tis  a  juft  one, 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.         107 

Caufe  :     'Tis  far  more  reafonable  to  look  for  it 
in  Nature,  than  in  Grace. 

It  may  not  be  amifs  to  obferve  flill  further, 
that  thefe  Terrors,  with  their  Effects,  are  uniform 
all  over  the  Country  ;  operating  upon  all  in  whom 
they  take  Place,  much  in  the  fame  Way  and  Man 
ner,  be  their  moral  Character  what  it  will.  Whe* 
ther  the  Subjects  of  them  be  great  or  fmall  Sin 
ners,  whether  the  Sins  they  have  committed  be 
more  or  lefs,  whether  they  have  continued  in  Sin 
a  longer  or  fhorter  Time,  there  is  no  Difference 
as  to  their  Fears,  and  the  Operation  of  them ;  but 
they  are  all  indifcriminately  thrown  into  the  like 
horrible  Circumflanees  ;  which  it  is  not  reafon 
able  to  think  would  be  the  Cafe,  if  they  were 
put  into  this  Condition  by  a  divine  Influence  : 
Whereas,  its  the  very  Thing  that  might  be  ex- 
pefted,  where  Nature  is  fuddenly  furpris'd,  and 
over-come,  as  in  a  Fright. 

In  fine,  it's  a  Circumftance  no  Ways  fa* 
vouring  the  divine  Rife  'of  thefe  Out-cries,  that 
many  People  now  commonly  make  them,  not 
as  urg'd  hereto  from  an  over-pouring  Senfe  of 
their  own  Sins,  but  the  Sins  of  others.  Having 
been  converted  themfelves,  their  Diftrefi,  under 
the  Preaching  of  the  Wordy  is  now  raifed  to 
fuch  a  Height  for  the  unconverted  Sinners  in  the 
Congregation,  that  they  can't  help  for  earning  out  ; 
and  fo  many  of  them,  fometimes  at  once,  as  that 
the  Worfhip  is  interrupted,  or  greatly  diflurUcL  A 
Concern  for  others,  whom  we  have  Reafon  to 
fear,  are  in  a  State  of  Sin,  is,  no  Doubt,  reafon 
able  ;  and  there  will  be  more  or  lefs  of  it,  in 
the  Heart  of  every  fincere  Chriftian.  Bun  are 
Skiieklngs  a  fuitabb  ExpreiTion  of  this  Concern  ; 

efpecially. 


log  fbingttfabzd  PART    I, 

efpecially,  in  the  Houfe  of  GOD  ?    And  can  it 
be   fuppos'd,  the  GOD  of  Order,  would,  by  the 
Exertment  of  his  Power,  raife   this  Concern  to 
fuch  a  Height,  as  that  his  own  ^or/hip  fhould  be 
broke  up  upon  the  Account  of  it?  'Tis  impoffi- 
ble.     I  never  heard  one  fober,  folld  Perfon  fpeak 
a  Word,  in  Favour  of  thefe  Out-cries  ;     and  am 
heartily   forry,     any    Thing    has    been  printed, 
encouraging  fo  grofs  an  Extravagance,     J  hope 
none,     from   the    meer  Sound    of  fome    Texts, 
will  juftify  this  fame  Diftrefs  for  others,  as  it  be 
gins  now  to  difcover  it  felf,  among  fome  Perfons, 
in   another  Form,     in    Travail-Pains   and    Throws. 
Of  this,  I  have  now  an   Account  by  me,   in  a 
Letter  from  a  Friend,  upon  the  Evidence  of  his 
own  Eyes  and  Ears  ;     which  yet,    I  ihould   not 
have  mentioned,  but  that  I  have  fince  perfonally 
converfed  with  a  Minifter  in  the  Country,  who 
informed  me  of  one,  who  had  been  in  Travail 
two  or  three  Times  fucceffively  for  him.     i.  e. 
Under  all  the  Signs  of  Diftrefs,  that  appear  in  Wo 
men  upon  fuch  Occafions. 

Thefe  are  the  Reafons,  why  I  can't  entertain 
fo  high  an  Opinion  as  fome  others  do,  of  the 
Terrors  appearing  in  ftrange  bodily  Effects,  which 
have  been  fo  common  of  late  in  this  Land. 

It  will,  poffibly,  be  faid,  I  have,  in  faying  thefe 
Things,  refle&ed  Difgrace  upon  the  Work  of  Con- 
viftion.  If  I  had  had  fuch  a  Thought  of  the 
Matter,  I  ihould  have  fupprefled  what  is  here  of 
fered.  Thofe,  in  my  Opinion,  do  the  greateft 
Dimonour  to  the  blejjed  SPIRIT,  and  his  Influ 
ence  upon  the  Hearts  of  Sinners,  in  the  Bulinefs 
of  Conviffion,  who  make  no  Diftinclion  between 
thofe  Fears  that  are  the  Effett  of  Truth  duly  im~ 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        109 

preft  upon  the  Mind,  and  thofe  that  arife  from  an  af- 
frightned  Imagination.  And  to  fpeak  freely,  I  am 
clearly  in  the  Sentiment,  that  the  great  Strefs  that 
has  been. laid  upon  fucb  Terrors,  as  have  evidently 
been  produced  by  the  mechanical  Influence  of  aw 
ful  Words  and  frightful  Geftures,  has  been  a  great 
DifTervice  to  the  Intereft  of  Religion  :  Nay,  I 
am  not  without  Fear,  leaft  the  tremendous  Threat- 
ning  of  GOD  have,  by  fome,  been  prophanely  made 
Ufe  of,  while,  under  the  Pretence  of  Awakening 
Men's  Confciences,  they  have  thunder'd  out 
Death  and  Damnation,  in  a  Manner  more  fit  for 
the  Stage  than  the  facred  Desk,  and  fo  as  to  afto- 
nifh  the  Imagination  rather  than  poflefs  the  Mind 
of  a  reafonable  Convi&ion  of  thefe  awful  Truths 
.of -GOD.-  I  am  not  againfl  the  Preaching  of  Ter 
ror  ;  but  whenever  this  is  done,  it  ought  to  be 
in  a  Way  that  may  enlighten  the  Mind,  as  well 
as  alarm  the  Paflions  :  And  I  am  greatly  mifta- 
kert,  if  this  has  been  the  Pra6Hce,  among  fome 
Sort  of  Preachers,  fo'  much  as  it  ought  to  be. 
And  to  this  it  may  be  owing,  that  Religion,  of  late, 
has  been  wore  a  Cominotion  in  the  PaJJlons,  than  a 
Change  in  the  Temper  of  the  Mind:  Not  but  that, 
I  think,  a  lafling  Change  has  been  wrought  in  a 
Number  ;  though  I  could  wiili  I  had  Reafon  to 
fay,  it  was  fo  great  a  Number  as  fome  pretend  : 
Nay,  I  am  not  without  Hopes,  that  fome  even 
of  thofe  who  have  been  frightened  into  Shrieks 
and  Fits,  are  become  new-Men  ;  but  then,  I  have 
no  other  Thought,  in  the  general,  of  the  Surprife 
they  were  thrown  into,  than  of  the  Surprife  by 
a  terrible  Clap  of  Thunder,  or  the  Shock  of  an 
Earthquake  :  They  might  hereby  be  awakened 
to  Confideration,  and  put  upon  waiting  upon 
GOD  in  his  own  Way,  'till  a  Work  of  Grace  has 
been  effe&ed  in  them. 

I 


1 10  Things  of  a  bad  PAR  T.    L 

I  (hall  conclude   this  Head  with  two  general 
Cautions. 

The  firft  is,  to  beware  of  being  prejudiced  a- 
gainft  the  real  Work  of  Conviction,  from  theftrange 
Appearance,  in  a  Way  of  Terror,  there  has  been 
lately  feen  among  us.  Many,  I  have  Reafon  to 
fear,  have  herefrom  been  led,  both  to  think  and 
fpeak,  very  unfuitably  of  this  Work  of  the  HOLY 
SPIRIT  :  But  they  are  herein  greatly  to  Blame. 
There  certainly  is  fuch  a  Thing  as  a  Sen-fe  of  Sin, 
expreiTmg  itfelf  in  bitter  Remorfe  of  Confcience. 
*Tis  indeed  impoflible,  that  Sinners  ftiould  have 
upon  their  Minds  ajuftApprehenfion  of  themfelves, 
and  their  real  Chara6ler,  as  Children  of  PPrath,  and 
not  be  fill'd  with  uneafy  Senfations  :  Nay,  it 
may  be  fear'd  of  all,  who  have  liv'd  to  adult 
Years,  thoughtlefs  of  their  Souls,  that  they  know 
not  the  Grace  of  GOD  in  Truth,  if  they  have 
had  no  Experience  of  the  Troubles  of  an  awa 
kened  Confcience  :  Nor  is  it  any  Obje6lion  a- 
gainft  either  the  Reality  or  Neceffity  of  this  Con- 
viftion,  that  there  may  be  a  Refemblance  of  it  in 
the  Workings  of  that  Fear  which  is  not  excited 
by  the  Influence  of  the  HOLY  GHOST  :  And  in- 
flead  of  being  prejudiced  herefrom  againft  the 
SPlRITs  Operation,  in  convincing  Sinners,  we 
ihould  take  Occafion  to  be  wifely  cautious  in  diffcin- 
guifhing  between  thofe  Fears,  with  their  Effects, 
that  are  from  the  SPIRIT,  and  thofe  that  may  have 
Rife  from  other  Caufes. 

Very  ferviceable  for  our  Direftion  in  this 
Matter,  are  the  Words  of  that  experienced  Chriftian, 
as  well  as  noted  Divine,  Mr.  CHARNOCK.  Says  he,f 

f  His  Works,  Vol.  II-  Page  584- 

pointing 


PART    1.         and  dangerous  Tendency,         in 

pointing  out  the  Difference  between  thofe  Con* 
visions  that  are  from  Nature  and  the  SPIRIT,  the 
former  "  are  fudden  Frights  and  Startings,  which 
"  foon  fettle  again  ;  as  in  a  fudden  fright  and 
<*  Start,  Nature  is  fpeedily  reduced  to  its  former 
te  Temper,  and  the  Blood  that  was  put  on  a  fud- 
*6  den  into  another  Motion,  is  quickly  brought 
€t  to  its  former  Confidence.  They  are  ufually  like 
*f  a  Land-Flood,  which  caufes  an  Inundation,  but 
"  finks  not  into  the  Roots  of  the  Soul.  —  -  It  is  a 
€f  Work,  not  fo  much  upon  the  Judgment  as  up- 
ff  on  the  Affetlions  :  Therefore  it  is  like  a  Fire 
"  falling  upon  Flax  and  other  combuflable 
€f  Matter,  which  flames  and  expires  ;  and  you 
f<  fee  its  Death  almofl  as  foon  as  it  begins  to 
€(  be  :  Whereas  thofe  Convictions  that  arife 
"  from  the  SPIRIT,  fettle  upon  the  Judgment, 
"  and  like  a  Fire  in  a  Log  of  Wood,  are  kept 
fc  alive  in  the  Soul,  eat  into  the  Soul,  dive  into 
<c  the  Bottom,  produce  ferious  and  lafling  Affec- 
"  tions.  Confcience  is  ftaggering  and  unfix  t  ; 
,  €(  therefore  whatfoever  arifeth  from  it,  partak- 
€f  eth  of  the  uncertain  Nature  of  the  Caufe. 
ff  We  fhall  be  moveable  in  our  Affections  ;  unlefs 
"  firft  fledfafl  in  our  Judgment."  And  again, 
{hewing  the  Difference  between  thofe  Convicti 
ons,  in  which  Satan  may  have  a  Hand,  and  thofe 
that  are  from  the  SPIRIT,  he  fays,*  "  Satan  works 
"  violently  and  fuddenly,  and  moft  by  the  PaJJions 
€f  and  Humours  of  the  Body,  rather  than  by  Rca- 
€f  fon  ;  but  the  SPIRIT  works  upon  the  Mind, 
therefore  he  is  an  enlightning  SPIRIT.  Satan 
works  upon  the  Reafon  by  the  PaJJlon  ;  the 
SPIRIT  upon  the  PaJJlon  by  Reafon  ;  He  firft 


f  H.  Vol.  P.  594, 

fc  enlightens 


cc 


Things  of  a* bad  PART    I. 

fe  enlightens  the  Mind,  and  brings  Light  into  the 
€(  Heart,  and  the  rational  Faculties,  the  proper 
f(  Subjects  of  Light  ;  and  by  this  Means  winds 
"  up  the  Paffions  to  what  Pitch  and  Tune  he  - 
f(  thinks  fit.  Satan  firft  works  upon  the  Humour? 
ff  of  the  Body,  as  melancholy,  and  the  like.  Sa- 
"  tan  works  violently,  as  upon  Pajfion,  as  he  buf- 
€C  fetted  PAUL  ;  boxes  a  Man  to  and  fro, 
(f  fo  that  he  hath  no  Time  to  do  any  Thing 
"  but  confider  his  Mifery  ;  whereas  the  SPIRIT 
"  propofeth  the  Objeft,  helps  the  Soul  to  confider, 
<c  ancj  by  Degrees  leads  to  a  further  Knowledge 
<f  of  the  Light  of  the  Gofpel,  from  a  glimmering 
<c  to  a  {hining  Light,  'till  the  Knowledge  of  the 
"  Lord  break  in,  in  its  full  Glory."  And  his 
firft  Inference  from  what  he  had  faid  about  Con- 
wttlon  of  Sin  is,$  Cf  The  Gofpel  doth  not  deflroy 

ff  Reafon  and  rational  Proceeding. The  working 

*<  of  the  SPIRIT  is  according  to  the  Nature  of 
Cf  Man,  moves  not  in  Contradiction  to,  but  in 

"  an  Elevation  of  Reafen. He  doth  not  extin- 

«  guifli  Rcafon,  the  Candle  of  the  LORD,  but 
f<  fnufFs  it,  and  adds  more  Light,  reduces  it  to 
ff  its  proper  Manner  of  Operation,  and  fets  it 
"  in  its  right  State  towards  GOD  j  brings  firft 
"  Light  into  the  Under'flanding,  and  new  Moti- 
"  ons  into  the  Will  :  He  doth  not  dethrone  Rea- 
"  fon  and  Judgment,  but  applies  it  to  its  proper 
"  Work,  repairs  it,  fets  it  in  its  true  Mqtion.— 
"  The  Arguments  the  SPIRIT  ufes,  are  fuited  to 
ff  the  Reafon  of  Men,  otherwife,  Confcience  could 
"  not  he  mov'd  ;  for  Confcience  follows  Judg- 
(f  ment  :  IT  is  NOT  AN  ACT  OF  JUDGMENT,  BUT 
"  IMAGINATION,  THAT  REASON  DOTH  NOT  PRECEDE. 


Page  ibid. 

As 


FART    I.  and  dangerous  Tendency.       113 

f<-  As  the  Service  GOD  requires,  is  a  rational  Ser- 
"  vice  ;  fo  the  Method  he  ufes  in  Conversion  is 
"  a  rational  Method.  " 

The  other  Caution  I  would  give  is,  to  take  heed 
of  Miftakes  about  the  paffionate  Pan:  of  Convifti- 
on,  i.  e.  The  fenfible  Workings  of  the  AfFe6lions* 
There  are  two  Mifiakes,  in  this  kind,  People  have 
been  ready  to  fall  into* 


Some,  and  great  Multitudes,  it  may  be 
have  plac'd  their  Religion  too  much  in  this  extra 
ordinary  Terror  ;  trufting  to  it,  and  making  a  Righ- 
teoufnefs  of  it  :  putting  it  in  the  Place  of  CHRIST, 
or  of  that  real  Change  of  Heart  and  Life,  without 
which  they  can't  be  qualified  for,  an  Admiffion 
into  the  Kingdom  of  GOD.  Holy  Mr.  BAXTER'S 
Words  are  very  pertinent  to  fuch  Perfons  as 
thefe.  Says  he,  ff  Think  not  that  you  can  fatisfy 
<c  the  Juftice  of  the  Z^w,  or  merit  any  Thing 
<f  of  GOD,  by  the  Worth  of  your  Sorrows  ;  tho* 
"  you  ihould  weep  even  Tears  of  Blood.  It  is 
'  '*  not  true  Humiliation,  if  it  conflfls  not  in  the 
j  "  Senfe  and  Acknowledgement  of  your  Unwor- 
(f  thinefs,  and  Defert  of  Condemnation  ;,  and  if  it 
!  ff  do  not  lead  you  to  look  out  for  Pardon  and 

1<f  Life  from  CHRIST,  as,  being  loll  and  wholly  in- 
"  fufficient  for  your  felves.  And  therefore  it 
I  cf  would  be  a  plain  Contradi6lion,  if  true  'Humili- 
(f  ation  iliould  be  taken  as  Satisfaction,  or  Merit  ; 
f{  or  trufted  on,  inftead  of  CHRIST."  To  the  like 
Purpofe  are  thofe  Words  of  the  pious  Mr.  BOL-: 
TON.  Says  he,  f  "  Once  for  all,  take  this  Ca- 


Vol.  II.  of  his  Works,  P.  566.      -.In  his  In- 

jlructions  for  a  right  comforting  afflicted  Confci- 
ences,  P.  173, 

I 


114  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

c*  veat  and  Forewarning  :  If  any  fliould  think 
(f  of  thefe  precedent  A6fo,  thefe  preparatory 
(<  Workings  of  the  Law  and  Gofpel,  which  make 
tf  Way  for  the  Infufion  of  Faith,  as  any  mtrito- 
fc  rlous  Means  to  draw  on  CHRIST  ,*  it  were  a 
€f  mofl  falfe,  rotten,  foolifh,  execrable,  popifli, 
"  abfurd,  Lticiferian  Conceit  ,•  and  might  juilly 
cc  merit,  never  to  obtain  Mercy  at  GOD's  boun- 
6(  tiful  Hands;  nor  part  in  the  Merits  of  CHRIST-" 

Others,  from  what  they  have  feen,  or  heard  of 
the  dreadful  Terrors,  fome  have  been  in,  difcover- 
ing  themfelves  in  Shriekings  and  Swoenings,  have 
been  ready  to  queftion  their  good  Eflate,  meerly 
becaufe  they  han't  experienced  in  this  Refpeft,  as 
they  have  done.  But  this  is  a  wrong  Way  of 
Judging  in  the  Cafe.  Hear  how  the  famous  Dr, 
OWEN  expreffes  himfelf  upon  this  Matter.  Un 
der  the  Work  of  Conviftion  there  will  be,  fays  he,* 
"  difquieting  and  perplexing  AfFeftions  in  the 
<c  Minds  of  Men  ;  nor  can  it  be  otherwife, 
C6  where  it  is  fixt  and  prevalent.  As,  (i)  Sorrow 
**  and  Shame,  for  and  of  what  they^  have  done* 
ce  (2)  Fear  of  eternal  ft/rath.  This  keeps  the 
**  Soul  in  Bondage,  and  is  accomjpanied  with  Tor- 
*(  ment.  (3)  Perplexing  unfatisfaftory  Enquiries 
((  after  Means,  and  Ways  for  Deliverance,  out  of 
(f  this  Diftrefs,  and  from  future  Mifery.  What 
"  {hall  we  do  to  be  faved,  is  the  reftlefs  Inquiry 
««  of  fuch  Perfons."  He  goes  on,f  "  The  Sub* 
"  ftance  of  thefe  Things  is  ordinarily  found  in. 
**  thofe  who  are  converted  unto  GOD,  when 
<tf  grown  up  unto  the  Ufe  of  Reafon,  and  capa- 


In  his  Difcourje  upon  the  HOLT  SPIRIT,  P.  305. 
t  P.  306.  ' 

«  ble 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.         115 

sf  ble  of  Imprefllons  from  external  Adminiflrati- 
(f  ons   :      Efpecially,  are   they   evident  in   the 
*c  Minds  and  Confciences  of  fuch,  as  have  been 
ff  engag'd  in  any  open  fmful  Courfe,  or  Practice." 
He  then  immediately  adds,  'f  But  yet,  no  certain 
"  Rule  or  Meafure  of  them  can  be  prefcrib'd  as  ne- 
ff  cejfary  in,  or  unto  any,  antecedaneouQy  unco 
ff  Conversion.     To  evince   the   Truth  whereof* 
*'  two  Things  may  be  obferved  ,•     (  i.  )  Tine 
"  Perturbations,     Sorrows,     Deje&ions,    Dread* 
(f  Fear,  are  no  Duty  unto  any  ;     only,  they  are 
"  fuch  Things   as  fometimes    enfue,    or   are  e- 
<c  mitted  into  the  Mind,  upon  that  which  is  a 
€(  Duty  indifpenfible;  namely*  ConvWon  of  Sin. 
*f  They  belong  not  to  the  Precept  of  the  Law* 
"  but  to  its  Curfe.     They  are  no  Part  of  what  is 
"  required  of  us,  but  of  what  is  inflicted  on  us. 
"  There  is  a  Gofpel- Sorrow,  and  Humiliation  after 
"  believing  that  is  a  Duty,  that  is  both  command- 
<€  ed*   and   hath  Promifes    annext   to   it   :     Buc 
€f  this  legal  Sorrow  is  an  Effect  of  the  Curfe  of 
"  the  Law,  not  of  its  Command.      (2.)  GOD  is 
u  pleas'd  to  exercife  a  Prerogative  and  Sovcreign- 
*c  ty  in   this  whole   Matter,  and  deals  with  the 
<c  Souls  of  Men  in  unfpeakable  Variety.     Some 
"  he  leads  by  the  Gates  of  Death  and  Hell  un- 
u  to  Reft  ift  his  Love.     And  the  Paths  of  others 
f(  he  makes  plain  and  eafy  to  them.     Some  walk 
"  and  wander  long  in  Darkriefs  ;  in  the  Souls  of 
"  others,  CHRIST  is  formed  in   the  iirft  gracious 
*(  Vifitation." 

In  a  few  Pages  onwards  f,  He  fpcaks  of  it  as 
an  entangling  Temptation  Perfons  under  Conviction 
iliould  beware  of;  Namely,  "  that  thev  have  not 


t 

I  2  ^  attain  d 


1 1 6  Things  of  a  bad  PART    i. 

"  attain  d~  fuch  a  Degree  of  Sorrow  for  Sin,  and  Hit- 
"  initiat  wii$  as  is  neceiTary  to  them  who  are  call- 
(f  ed  to  believe  in  JESUS  CHRIST."  And  fays  up 
on  it,  "  There  was  indeed  more  Reafon  of  giv- 
"  ing  Caution  againfl  Temptations  of  this  Kind 
fc  in  former  Days,  when  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel 
(f  dealt  more  feverely,  I  wifli  I  may  not  alfo  fay 
"  more  fincerely,  with  the  Confciences  of  convin- 
"  ced  Sinners,,  than  it  is  the  Manner  of  moil  now 
<e  to  do  ;  But  yet,  'tis  poffible,  that  herein  may 
"  Jb  a  Miftake  ;  feeing  no  fuch  Degrees  of  thefe 
f(  Things,  as  fome  may  be  troubled  about,  are 
"  prefcribVl  for  any  fuch -End,  either  in  the 
*6  Law  or  Gofpel."  And  of  the  fame  Mind  was 
the  celebrated  Mr.  SHEPARD,  Mr.  WILLA^D,  and 
others,  I  have  elfewhere  mentioned. 

The  Words  of  the  pious  Mr.  BAXTER  are  fo 
obfervable,  I  can't  help  tranfcribing  them,  for 
the  Conclufion  of  this  Head.  A  Miftake,  fays 
he,!  to  be  carefully  avoided  is,  "  The  placing 
"  your  Humiliation,  either  only,  or  principally,  in 
fi  the  pa f] mate  Part,  or  in  the  outward  Exprtjfions 
"  of  the  Paffions.  I  mean  either  in  pinching 
"  Grief,  and  Sorrow  of  Heart,  or  elfe  in  Tears. 
"  But  you  mufl  remember,  that  the  Life  of  it  is 
"  in  the  Judgment  and  the  Will  It  is  not  the 
Me 'aj lire  of  paffionate  Sorrow  and  Anguijb,  that 
will  bell  fhew  the  Meafure  of  'your  fmcere  Hu* 
mill  all  on  i  much  lefs  is  it  your  Tears,  or  out 
ward  Expressions.  But  it  is  your  low  Efteem  of 
your  felves,  and  Contentednefs  to  be  vile  in 
the  Eyes  of  others  ;  and  your  Difplicency 
with  your  felves,  and  Willingnefs  to  mourn, 


f  His  Works.  Vol.  2.  Page  562,  563. 

«  and 


(f 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         117 

^  and  weep  for  'Sin  as  much  as  GOD  would  have 
'  <  you,  and  the  reft  of  the  Acts  of  the  Judgment 
«  and  mil 

fc  Two  great  Dangers  are  here  before  you  to 
"  be  avoided,     (i)  Some  there  be  that  have  tcr- 
"  ribk  Pangs  of  Sorrow,   and  are  ready  to  tear 
fi  their  own  Hair  ;     yea,  to  make  away  ihewfehes, 
"  as  JUDAS,  in  the  Horror  of  their  Conferences  ; 
cc  and  thefe  may  feem  to  have  tRie  Humiliation, 
<e  and  yet  have  none,     And  force  can  weep  a- 
"  bundantly  at  a  Sermon,  or  in  a  Prayer,  or  in 
f  mentioning  their  Sin  to  others,  and  therefore 
t(  think  they  are  truly  humbled  ;  and  yet,  it  may 
cc  be  nothing  fo,     For  if,  at  the  lame  Time,  their 
e  Hearts  are  in  Love  with  Sin,  or  have  not  an 
*f  habitual  Hatred  of  it,  and  a  predorhinant  fu- 
€e  perlative  Love  to  GOD,  their  Humiliation  is  no 
ff  faving  Work.  .....  (2)  Another  Sort  there  are, 

fe  much  better  and  happier  than  the  former,  that 
f  *  yet,  to  their  great  Trouble,  are  rniftaken  in  this 
"  Point  ;  and  that  is,  they  that  think  they  have 
ff  no  true  Humiliation,  becaufe  they  find  not  fuch 
(e  Pangs  of  Sorrow,  and  Freedom  of  Tears  as  c^ 
c  thers  have  ;  whereas  their  Hearts  are  con- 
ff  trite,  even  when  they  cannot  weep  a  Tear. 
Tell  me  but  this^  are  you  vile  in  your  own 
Eyes  becaufe:  you  are  guilty  of  Sin/  and  that 
againfl  the  LORD,  whom  you  chiefly  love  ? 
Do  you  loath  your  fclves  becauib  of  your  A- 
bominations  ?  And  could  'you  heartily  v/iih 
you  had  been  fuffering  when  you  were  fin-. 
ning  ?  And  if  it  were  to  do"  again,  v/oulcl 
you  choofe  to  fufFer  rather  than  to  fin  ?  ll:i\e 
you  a  Defire  to  grieve,  when  you  cannot  paf- 
fionately  grieve  ?  Do  you,  think  nieanlv  of 
your  own  Sayings  and  Doings,  and  better  of 
13  u  others, 


f 


n8  Things  of  a  b&d  PART    I. 

?c.  others,  where  there  is  any  Ground,  than  of  your 
"  feives  ?  Do  you  juflify  GOD's  Affliftions,  and 
fk  "*•  Ten's  Rebukes,  and  think  yourfelves  unwor- 
c<  ;hy  of  the  Communion  of  the  Saints,  unwor- 
*•  hy  to  live  upon  the  Face  of  the  Earth  ?  Yea, 
' c  would  you  juilify  GOD,  if  he  fhould  condemn 
ff  you  ?  This  is  the  State  of  an  humbled 
tf  Soul.  Find  but  this,  and  you  need  not  doubt 
**  of  GOD's  Acceptance,  tho*  you  were  unable  to 
<-  u:ed  a  '1  ear.  There  is  more  Humiliation  in 
"  a.  bafe  Efteem  of  ourfelves,  than  in  a  thoufand 
"  Tears  ;  and  more  in  a.  Will  or  Defire  to  weep 
"  frr  Sin,  than  in  Tears  that  come  through  Force 
"  of  Terror,  or  Moiflure  of  the  Brain,  or  fajfionate 
"  Tendernefs  of  Nature.  If  the  Will  be  right,  you 
*{  need  not  fear.  It  is  he  that  moil  hateth  Sin9 
<  'Hid  is  hardlicft  drawn  to  it,  that  is  truliefi  hum- 
f  bled  for  it."  He  proceeds,  a  little  onwards, 
to  obferve,  "That  that  Part  of  Humiliation,  which 
<c  c-.r'  i:cih4in  the  A£ls  of  the  Understanding,  and 
"  Will,  can't  be  too  much,  as  to  the  Intention  of 
u  the  Ac~h  To  have  too  clear  an  Apprehenfion 
<c  of  the  Evil  of  Sin,  and  his  own  Vilenefs,  this 
"  a  Man  need  not  fear.  And  in  the  Will  it  is 
"  more  clear  :  No  Man  can  be  too  willing  to 
"  be  rid  of  Sin,  in  GOD-s  Time  and  Way  ,•  nor 
<c  be  too  much  averfe  from  it,  as  it  is  againft 
*'  the  LORD.  But  then,  the  other  Part  of  Hwnilia? 
"  tion,  which  confifleth  in  the  Depth  of  Sorrow,  or 
f4  m  Tsars,  may  polTibly  be  too  much"  And 'in  fe- 
veral  Panicuiars,  he  direfts  Perfons  how  to  difcern 
v:  en  it  is  fo.  As,  "  Firft,  When  your  Sorrow  is 
"  greater  than  your  Brains  can  bear,  without  ap- 
f  parent  Danger  of  'Dijlraftion,  or  a  nplancholh 
<c  Dijiurbance  and  Diminution  of  your  Under/land- 
fi  ing,  then  it  is  certainly  too  much,  and  to  be 
6 (  retrained.  For  if  you  overthrow  your  Reafon, 

<f  you 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         119 

fs  you  will  be  a  Reproach  to  Religion,  and  you 
<c  will  be  fit  for  nothing  that's  truly  Good,  ei- 
fc  ther  to  your  own  Edification,  or  the  Service  of 
«  GOD"  Again,  "  When  Sorrow  is  fo  great 
fc  as  to  difcompofe  your  Mind,  or  enfeeble  your 
"  Body,  fo  as  to  unfit  you  fpr  the  Service  of 
is  GOD,  and  make  you  more  unable  to  do  Good, 
<(  or  receive  Good,  you  have  Reafon  then  to  mo 
"  derate  and  reflrain  it."  Likewife,  "When  the 
"  Greatnefs  of  your  Sorrow  'doth  overmatch  the 
<c  necefTary  Meafure  of  your  Love,  or  Joy,  or 
f(  Thanks,  and  keep  out  thefe,  and  take  up  more 
<c  of  your  Spirit  than  its  Part,  having  no  Room 
u  for  greater  Duties,  then  it  is  excelfive  and  to 
ff  be  retrained.  There  are  fome  that  will  flrive 
«  and  flruggle  with  their  Hearts,  to  wring  out 
t(  a  few  Tears,  and  increafe  their  Sorrow,  that 
€f  yet  make  little  Confcience  of  other  Affections, 
"  and  will  not  flrive  half  fo  much  to  increafe  their 
u  Faith,  and  Love,  and  Joy,"  So  "  when  your 
<c  Sorrow,  by  the  Greatnefs  of  it,  doth  draw  you  in- 
"  to  Temptation,  either  to  defpair,  or  think  hardly 
"  of  GOD,  and  his  Service,  or  to  undervalue  his 
66  Grace,  and  the  Satisfa6lion  of  CHRIST,  as  if  ic 
"  were  too  fcant  and  inefficient  for  you,  you 
"  have  then  Caufe  to  moderate  and  reflrain  it." 

The  next  Thing  to  be  confidered,  as  what  I 
can't  but  look  upon  to  be  of  dangerous  Tendency 
is  that  fudden  Light  and  J/oy  fo  many,  of  lace, 
claim  to  be  the  Subjects  of.  Not  that  I  quefli- 
on,  whether  there  is  fuch  a  Thing  as  religious 
Joy.  The  Bible  often  fpeaks  of  rejoicing  in  GOD, 
and  in  Hope  of  the  Glory  to  be  hereafter  revealed. 
The  Kingdom  of  GOD  is  faid  to  coniiil  in  Joy,  as 
well  as  Peace  and  Righteoufnefs  ; '  And  Toy  is 
reckon'd  among  the  Fruits  of  the  SPIRIT  : "  And 

this. 


120  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

this  Joy  is  faid  to  be  unfpeakable,  and  full  of  Glory  ; 
yea.,  'as  called  the  Peace  of  GOD  which  pajfeth  all 
Undsrjlandmg.  But  then,  there  is  zfalfe,  as  well 
as  true  Joy ;  the  Joy  of  the  Hypocrite,  as  well  as 
of  the  real  Chriftian  ;  a  Joy  that  has  its  Rife  in 
animal  Nature,  as  well  as  from  the  HOLY  GHOST. 
And  though  I  would  hope,  a  Number,  of  late, 
have  been  made  Partakers  of  true  Joy,  the  Joy 
there  is  in  Believing  ;  yet,  there  may  be  Reaibn 
for  Fear,  left  the  Joy  that  has  been  fo  much 
boafted  of,  mould  be  no  other,  in  the  general, 
than  the  joy,  thofe  may  experience,  who  are 
Chriftiaris  more  in  Appearance  than  Reality,  in  Word* 
than  Deed. 

I  mall  here  take  Liberty  to  examine  this  Joy  ; 
and  fhall  do  it  with  all  the  Impartiality  I  am 
able,  as  being  a  Matter  in  which  'tis  exceeding 
dangerous  for  Men  to  deceive  themfelves,  or  be 
deceived  by  others.  And, 

Three  Things  are  obfervable  with  Reference 
to  'true  Joy  ;  the  Foundation  of  it,  its  Caufe  and 
Effetls  :  And  the'fe  are  the  Things  by  which 
I  ihall  try  the  Joy  of  the  prefent  Times. 

'  The  Foundation  of  true  Joy  is  always  laid  in 
fuch  a  Faith,  as  embraces  the  SAVIOUR  upon  Gof* 
-pel-Terms  ;  a  Faith  that  purifies  the  Heart,  and  is 
a  living,  aftive,  powerful  Principle  of  all  holy  O- 
bedi:nce  to  the  Commandments  of  GOD.  The" 
new  Creature,  the  Man  that  has  upon  him  the  /- 
mage  of  CHRIST  JESUS,  is  the  Subject  of  this  Joy. 
A  Stranger  to  the  Work  of  the  SPIRIT,  in  Re.gene~ 
ration,  intermeddles  not  with  it  :  And  however  he 
may  pretend  to  it,  or  feem  to  be  in  Tranlports 
of  it,  'tis  nothing  more  than  Pretence,  or  the 

Effec\ 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         112 


of  a  deluded  Imagination.  And  this  is  a 
plain  Cafe  :  For  where  there  is  not  a  Work  of 
Grace  in  the  Heart,  'tis  impoflible  a  Man  iliould 
think  juflly  of  hiinfelf,  while  he  thinks  there  is  ; 
and  his  Joy  therefore  from  the  Apprehenfion  of 
his  being  a  Child  of  GOD,  and  in  a  State  of  Fa 
vour  with  him,  muft  be  a  Delufion. 

And  now,  can  it  be  pretended  of  all  that  have, 
of  late,  been  in  great  Light  and  Joy,  that  they 
are  among  the  Sanctified  in  CHRIST  JESUS  ?  Would 
to  GOD  it  were  thus  !  Some  have  made  it  evi 
dent  by  their  after-Lives,  that  their  Joy  was  only 
a  fudden  Flaflo,  a  Spark  of  their  own  kindling  :  Nay, 
fome  have  been  made  fenfible,  their  Joy  was  no 
thing  more  than  a  meer  fenfitive  Pajjlon,  and 
have  own'd  they  were  under  a  Delufion,  while 
they  imagined  it  was  of  a  divine  Origin.  And 
if  the  Foundation  of  Joy,  in  the  Multitudes  who 
have  had  the  feeling  of  it,  was  a  renewed  Heart, 
this  they  would  have  made  evident  by  their  walk 
ing  in  Neivnefs  of  Life  :  They  would  have  ap 
pear  'd  new  Men,  being  better  in  their  whole  ex 
ternal  Condutt,  both  towards  GOD  and  Man,  in  all 
the  varying  Conditions  and  Relations  of  Life.  And 
has  this  generally  been  the  Cafe  ?  I  believe  few- 
will  have  the  Face  to  pretend  it  has  ;  and  we 
{hall  prefently  fee  what  Reafon  there  is  to  fear  it 
has  not. 

The  Caufe  of  true  Joy  is  another  Thing  that 
muft  be  confidered;  by  which  I  mean,  here,  the 
immediate  Occafan  or  Reafon  of  the  Excitement  of 
this  Paffion.  And  this  is  the  Man's  Perception  of 
his  being  a  true  Believer,  a  real  Saint  ;  and  as 
fuch,  interefted  in  the  Promifes  of  the  Gofpel- 
Covenant.  A  Man  muft  not  only  be  a  Janftified 

Perfon, 


122  Things  of  a  b^  PART    I. 

Perfon,  but  difcern  that  he  is  fo,  before  he  can 
rationally  have  the  Joy  of  Religion.  The  Spring 
of  his  Joy,  is  the  View  he  has  of  himfelf  as  a  Per- 
fon  qualified,  according  to  the  Tenor  of  the  New- 
Teftament,  for  the  Forgivenefs  of  Sins,  and  an 
Inheritance  among  the  Saints  in  Light.  Hence 
that  Direction  of  the  Apoftle,  *  But  let  every  Man 
prove  his  own  Work,  and  then  /hall  he  have  rejoicing 
in  himfelf.  Agreeable  whereto  we  read,  $  This 
is  our  Rejoicing,  the  Teflimony  of  our  Confcience,  that 
in  Simplicity  and  godly  Sincerity,  not  by  flefbly  Wtf- 
dom,  but  by  the  Grace  of  GOD,  we  have  our  Comer  - 
fation  in  the  World.  The  immediate  Reafon  of 
true  Joy,  according  to  the  Apoflle  PAUL,  is  the 
Witnefs  of  Confcience  to  the  Work  of  Grace  in  our 
Hearts.  There  is,  no  Doubt,  the  concurrent 
Witnefs  of  the  Divine  SPIRIT  with  the  Cbrif- 
tians  Spirit^  that  he  is  a  true  Believer,  a  Child 
of  GOD  by  Regeneration  ,•  and  from  hence  he 
triumphs  in  GOD  as  his  Portion  and  Happinefs. 

Is  this  now  the  Way  in  which  Perfons,  in  thefe 
Times,  come  by  their  Joy  ?  Is  it  not  rather, 
in  fome,  a  fudden,  ftrange  delightful  Kind  of 
State,  arifing  they  can't  fay  whence,  or  where 
fore  ?  f  I  know  it  has  been  thus  with  fome  I 
have  conversed  with  ;  and  I  have  Reafon  to 

think 


*  Gal.  6.  4.    t  2  Cor-  i.  12. 

f  Says  Mr.  BAXTER,  "  If  I  find  a  great  deal  of 
"  Comfort  in  my  Heart,  and  know  not  how  it 
"  came  thither,  nor  upon  what  rational  Ground  it 
**  was  raifed,  nor  what  Considerations  do  feed  and 
<c  continue  it,  I  fliould  be  ready  to  queftion,  how 
"  I  knew  whether  this  be  from  GOD  ?  And 

"  though, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         123 

think,  it  has  been  the  Cafe  with  others  alfo.  And 
are  there  not  Multitudes,  whofe  Joy  has  fprung 
from  fudden  Imprejfions,  that  their  State  was  good, 
without  the  Difcernment  of  a  fpecial  Work  of 
GOD,  wrought  in  their  Hearts  V  Has  it  not 
been  fecretly  and  ftrongly  fuggefted  to  them,  that 
they  are  GOD's  Children,  that  CHRIST  died  for 
them,  and.  that  they  are  interefted  in  his  Me 
rits  ?  And  han't  t^ey  been  fure  of  this,  rather 
from  a  dirett  Light  flrining  in  their  Minds,  than 
from  the  Evidence  they  have  had,  from  the  Word 
of  GOD,  that  they  were  polTefl  of  fuch  Marks  of 
Regeneration  as  no  Hypocrite  ever  came  up  to  ? 
Nay,  is  it  not  an  avowed  Principle,  that  AJJiirance 
is  to  be  had  from  the  immediate  Witmfs  of  the 
SPIRIT,  telling  a  Man  that  he  is  a  true  Belie 
ver,  and  not  from  the  Perception  of  a  real  Work 
of  GOD,  effected  in  him  ?  Thofe  that  don't 
know,  that  the  Joy  of  thefe  Times  is  too  gene 
rally  the  Effeft  of  this  fudden  Light,  and  not  of 
a  jirift  and  thorow  Examination,  and  herefrom  the 
Witnefs  of  a  Mans  own  Spirit,  with  the  Tejlimony 
of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  to  a  Work  of  Santtifica- 
tion  wrought  in  his  Soul,  are  very  much  Stran 
gers  to  the  religious  State  of  Affairs  in  the  Land. 

This  may  feem  a  glorious  Way  to  Affitrancc 
and  Joy,  but  'tis  infinitely  dangerous  for  Men  to 
trufl  to  this  Light,  and  depend  upon  the  Joy  ari- 
fing  from  it-,  without  the  concurring  Tejlimony  of 
thek  own  Confidences,  upon  clear  and  full  Evi- 


"  though,  as  the  Cup  in  BENJAMIN'S  Sack^  it 
*6  might  come  from  Love,  yet  it  would  leave  np 
*c  but  in  Fears  and  Amazements,  becaufeoi  Untetx 
*«  tainty."  His  Works,  Vol.  3.  Page  246. 


124  ,    Things  of  a  bid  PART.    I. 

dence.  And  in  this  Sentiment  do  the  moil  expe-- 
rienced,  and  judicious  Divines  perfectly  agree. 
Says  the  pious  Mr.  BOLTON,*  "  That  which  the 
*c  SPIRIT  reveals  to  our  Conferences,  we  our- 
"  felves  may  colleci  and  conclude  out  of  GODV 
"  Wordy  upon  the  Confcience  of  our  Faith,  Re- 
fc  pentance,  and  other  faving  Endowments  and 
ff  holy  Graces,  fliining  in  our  Souls,  and  uprightly 
cc  exercis'd  in  our  whole  Converfation.  When  we 
(f  by  thefe  Means  have  aflurtd  our  Souls,  that  we 
"  are  the  Children  of  GOD,  which  is  the  Tefti- 
"  mony  of  our  own  renewed  Spirit,  the  SPIRIT  of 
cc  GODy  as  another  Witnefs,  fecondeth  and  con- 
"  firmeth  this  Aflurance  by  Divine  Inspiration, 
ce  and  by  fweet  Motions  and  Feelings  of  GOD's 
f(  fpecial  Goodnefs,  and  glorious  faving  Pre- 
*'  fence  ;  and  fo  according  to  the  Apoftlis 
<f  Phrafe,  Rom.  8.  16.  Beareth  Witnefs  with  our 
ff  Spirits.  Wherefore,  if  any  Man  prefumes  upon, 
(f  or  pretends  any  immediate  Suggestions  or  Revela- 
ff  lation  for  his  fpiritual  Safety,  and  everlafting 
"  Well-being  ,•  and  yet,  wants  utterly  the  Tefti- 
(f  mony  of  his  renewed  Confcience  to  the  fame  Pur- 
cc  pofe,  the  Teftijnony  of  Univerfal  Obedience, 
"  of  not  lying  wilfully  and  delightfully  in  any 
"  one  known  Sin,  of  crucifying  the  AfFe6tions 
fe  with  the  Lufts  ;  I  can  give  him  none  but 
"  this  cold  Comfort,  he  is  curfedly  coozened  by 
«  the  DevilY  counterfeit  Glory  of  an  Angel,  caft- 
"  ing  into  his  abftird  Imagination  fuch  groundlefs 
«  Conceits,  which,  in  Time  of  Trial,  will  vanifh 
"  into  nothing,  and  fly  away  as^a  Dream."  To 
the  like  Purpofe  are  thofe  Words  of  Mr.  BAXTER, 


See  his  general  Directions  for  a  comfort  able  walk 
ing  with  GODy  Page  328. 

Some 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         125 

<f  Some  I  have  known,  who  have  wanted  Affu- 
"  ranee  ;     and  falling  among  the  ANTINOMIANS, 
f(  were  told  by  them  that  they  undid  themfelves 
tf  by  looking   after  Signs   and  Marks  of  Grace, 
ff  and  fo  laying  their  Comforts  upon  fome  Things 
"  in  themfelves  ;     whereas  they  ftiould  look  only 
"  to  CHRIST  for  Comfort,  and  not  at  any  Thing 
"  in    themfelves  at  all.       And  for  Affurance^  it  is 
"  ONLY   THE   WITNESS    OF   THE   SPIRIT,   without 
"  any  Marks  that  mull  give  it  them  ;     and  to 
"  fetch  Comfort  from  their  own  Graces  and  Obe- 
fc  dience,  was  to  make  it  themfelves,  inflead  of 
"  CHRIST,  or  the  HOLY  GHOST,  and  was  a  legal 
*'  Way.      No  fooner  was  this  Dodlrine  received, 
«  but  the  Receivers  had  Comfort  at  Will,  and  all 
"  was  fealed  up  to  them  prefently  by  the  WIT- 
(f  NESS    OF    the  SPIRIT,  in  their   own   Conceit. 
(f  Whence  this  came,  judge  you.      Sure  I  am, 
"  that  the  fuddcn  Loofenefs  of  their  Lives,  anfwer- 
ff  ing  their  ignorant,  loole,  ungofpel-like  Do6lrine, 
(C  did   certify  me  that  the   SPIRIT  OF  COMFORT 
cf.was  not   their  COMFORTER  ;     for  he  is  alfo  a 
fe  SPIRIT  OF  HOLINESS,   and  comforteth  Men  by 
"  the  Means  of  a  holy   Gofpel,  which  hath  Pre- 
«  cepts,  and  Threatnirigs,  as  well  as  Promifes."*1 

The  lafb  Thing,  is  the  Influence  of  true  Joy  ; 
and  it  operates  in  various  Effefts  upon  thofe  who 
are  the  Subjects  of  it. 

One  of  its  Effefts  is,  a  Heart  and  Tongue  to 
fralfe  GOD.  It  exprefles  itfelf  in  fervent  Adora 
tions  of  divine  Mercy,  in  thankful  Acknowledge 
ments  to  the  GOD  of  all  Grace.  And  this,  it 


*  His  Works,  Vol.  2.  Page  869.' 

muft 


126  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

mufl  be  own'd,  is  the  Operation  of  the  Joy  of 
the  prefent  Day  :  But  then,  is  it  not  juft  Mat 
ter  of  Complain^  that  its  Praifes  of  GOD  have 
been  too  ojlentatiaus,  too  much  favouring  of  a 
Defire  to  be  feen  of  Men  ?  Has  it  been  content 
with  filerit  Admirations  of  the  Lovirig-Kind- 
nefs  of  GOD  in  JESUS  CHRIST  ;  venting  it  felf 
in  fecret  Breathings  of  Love,  and  Returns  of  Gra 
titude  to  the  Father  of  Mercies  ?  No,  but  the 
Houfes  of  PPorfhip,  the  Places  of  Concourfe,  are 
thofe  in  which  it  has  generally  broke  forth,  in 
Acknowledgements  to  GOD  :  Nay,  han't  it 
been  common  in  fome  Parts  of  the  Land,  and 
among  fome  Sorts  of  People,  to  exprefs  their  re 
ligions  Joy  by  finding  through  the  Streets,  and  in 
Ferry-Boats  ?  And  has  not  this  Joy  altnoil  uni- 
verfally  fliown  it  felf  in  Raptures  and  Tranfports  ? 
Nay,  in  Swooning*,  and  Out-cries,  and  Screaming*, 
fo  like  to  thefe  fame  Effecls  under  Terror,  that 
it  han't  been  known,  whether  Perfons  were  in 
Joy  or  Sorrow,  but  by  asking  them  the  Reafon  of 
the  Commotion  their  Paflions  have  beeii  in  f  Yea, 
has  it  not  been  a  ufual  Thing  to  fhew  this  Joy 
by  clapping  of  Hands,  by  jumping  up  and  down,  by 
Congratulations  in  the  Way  of  Kijfing,  by  breaking 
out  into  hearty  loud  Laughter  ?  It  may  feem  like 
a  Banter  upon  this  Joy  to  fpeak  thefe  Things  ; 
but  they  are  the  exaft  Truth  of  the  Cafe,  with 
out  a  Figure  :  And  known  to  be  fo  ;  and  this, 
not  in  a  fmgle  Inftance  or  Place,  but  in  Multitudes 
of  both  ;  yea,  this  has  been  the  Appearance, 
more  or  lefs,  in  all  Parts  of  the  Land,  where 
People  have  been  in  great  Light  and  Joy. 

This  of  Laughing,  fo  far  as  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  Hiftory  of  the  Church,  is  a  Method  of 
expreffing  religious  Joy  peculiar  to  the  prefent 

Times : 


PART    I.         an d  dangerous  Tendency.         127 

Times  :  Nor  can  I  think  from  whence  it  fliould 
take  Rife,  unlefs  from  Mr.  WHITEFIELD  and 
TENNENT.  The  former  of  thefe  Gentlemen  was 
fometimes  obferved  to  fpeak  of  the  Affairs  of 
Salvation,  with  a  Smile  in  his  Countenance ;  but 
'tis  generally  known  of  the  latter  ^  that  he  could 
fcarce  hear  of  a  Perfon's  being  under  the  flightefl 
Conviftion,  but  he  would  laugh.  And  if  told  of 
any  that  were  in  great  fpiritual  Diftrefs,  he  would 
fall  into  a  broad  Laugh.  This  always  appear'd 
{hocking  to  fome  who  were  Witnefles  of  it,  as 
I  have  often  heard  them  fay  :  But  as  it  was  the 
Gentleman's  Practice,  he  might  be  imitated  by 
others  in  this  Imperfeftion,  and  from  them  by 
others  ftill,  and  fb  the  Humour  be  propagated 
'till  it  becaLie  general.  I  can'ty  for  myfelf,  give 
an  Account  of  the  Rife  of,  this  Praftice  from  any 
other  Caufe.  But  from  whatever  Caufe  it  fprang* 
'tis  certainly  one  of  the  moft  incongruous  Ways 
of  expreffing  religious  Joy.  It  favours  of  too  much 
Levity,  as  it  has  to  do  with  Matters  of  infinite 
and  eternal  Moment.  It  difcovers  the  Want  of 
a  due  Reverence  towards  the  divine  Majejly  ; 
and  feems  inconflflent  with  that  holy  Fear  and 
Caution,  which  muft  be  thought  reafonable,  where 
the  Salvation  of  the  Soul  is  the  Thing  it  is  con- 
verfant  about. 

Nor  is  this  all,  but  ^hefe  Raptures  and  Extafies 
have,  in  too  many  Inflances,  come  to  yifwns, 
and  Trances,  and  Revelations.  There  are  few 
Places,  where  this  Joy,  in  all  its  Height,  has  pre 
vailed,  but  it  has  ended,  in  a  greater  or  lefs 
Number  of  Perfons,  in  thefe  Things.  I  could 
fill  many  Pages  with  the  Accounts  I  have 
.had  of  the  Trances  Perfons  have  been  in,  from 
different  Parti  of  the  Country  $  but  fliall  confine 

myfelf 


128  Thing  of  a  bad  PART    L 

my  felf  to  a  double  Inftance,  and  give  it  in  the 
Words  of  a  Friend,  in  his  Letter  to  me.  Says 
he,  (C  The  mod  remarkable  Thing  which  has 

"  happened  fitice'  Mr.  D T'S  Departure  (from 

"  NEW-HAVEN  )  is  Vlfions  and  Trances,  which 
(c  have  befell  fundry  Perfons  in  this  Place.  I 
"  will  endeavour  to  give  Account  of  two  Wo- 
"  men,  who  fell  into  a  Trance  together.  It  was 
fc  fometime  in  November  lait.  The  beginning 
c  of  it  was  at  a  Conference  Meeting,  or  private 
"  Fafl,  kept  by  a  Number  of  the  New-Light 
"  Party  (as  it  was  faid  )  to  pray  that  the  gene- 
"  ral  Council  of  Minifters,  who  were  then  fitting 
fc  at  GUILFORD,  might  be  reflrained  from  doing 
"  any  Thing  that  fiiould  be  detrimental  to  the 
"  Work  of  GOD,  or  ({hall  I  be  too  uncharitable, 
<f  if  I  fay )  in  other  Words,  to  their  Caufe.  At 
"  this  Meeting,  two  young  Women  were  ex- 
"  ceedingly  fill'd  with  Zeal,  and  their  Affections 
"  rais'd  very  high  :  They  were,  in  fome  De- 
"  gree,  deprived  of  their  bodily  Strength  ,•  but 
"  yet,  were  by  Turns  able  to  {peak,  which  they 
"  did,  in  AddrefTes  and  Exhortations  to,  and 
ff  Prayers  for,  thole  prefent,  who  they  fuppofed 
""were  unconverted.  Their  Minds  remained 
"  very  full  of  Zeal  and  Affeftion  that  Night, 
(f  and  the  next  Day.  The  next  Evening,  as 
"  they  were  together  walking  the  Street,  they 
"  were  both  fo  overpowered  by  fome  Thing  or 
<c  other,  that  they  fell  down  unable  to  walk,  and 
"  fo  continued,  for  fome  Time,  lying  in  the 
ff  Street  like  Perfons  dead  or  afleep.  At  length, 
"  one  recovered  herfelf  fo  far  as  to  be  able  to 
(f  go  to  the  next  Houfe,  which  was  within  a 
ff  few  Rods,  and  inform'd  the  People  of  the 
"  Condition  of  her  Mate,  who  thereupon  went 
^  and  brought  her  into  faid  Houfe  ,•  and  thus 

they 


PRAT    I.         and  daiigerous  Tendency.        129 

**  they  continued  in  a  Sort  of  Extafie,  either  lying 
*f  as  though  in  a  Sleep>  or  uttering  extatic  Ex- 
(f  preflions  of  Joy>  of  the  Love  of  CHRIST,  and 
M  of  Love  to  him  ;  of  Concern  for  the  Souls 
ff  of  Sinners^  and  the  like.  Many  People  refort- 
f€  ed  to  lee  them,  for  whom,  and  efpecially  for 
"  thofe  they  fuppos'd  were  out  of  CHRIST,  they 
ff  would  frequently  pray  with  great  Earneftnefs, 
((  and>  to  all  Appearance,  Engagednefs  of  Mind  ; 
ff  to  whom  they  would  alfo  addrefs  themfelves 
**  in  awful  Warnings,  moving  Perfwafions,  and 
f(  pathetic  Exhortations,  in  which  they  would 
(e  life  fome  Expreflions,  from  whence  it  feem'd 
f(  that  they  fuppos'd  themfelves  to  have  a  fpecial 
€f  Commiflion,  or  endow'd  with  fome  fpecial  Autho- 
«  rity;  fuch  as  CHRIST  has  fent  me>  CHRIST  has 
•f  bid  me  fay ,  and  do,fo  andfo.  And  indeed  many 
"  People,  efpecially  thofe  of  their  Party,  feemed 
ff  verily  to  believe  that  they  were  infpir'd,  and 
ff  did  ever  pretend  to  juftify  the  Separation  from 
cc  the  Authority  of  their  Word,  as  though  divine. 
*c  And  they  not  only  us'd  many  unwarrantable 
ff  Expreflions,  but  made  flrange  Declarations,  as 
ff  that  they  bad  been  to  Heaven,  had  feen  the  Book 
fc  of  Life,  the  Names  of  many  Perfons  of  their  Ac- 
ff  quaint ance  wrote  in  it  ;  that  they  had  fecn  the 
(f  Seats  of  the  Blejfed,  and  their  own  Seats  empty, 
ff  and  the  like.  Many  more  Things  they  laid 
fe  and  did  of  the  like  kind,  which  the  Time  will 
"  not  allow  me  particularly  to  relate.  In  the 
<f  Condition  defcribed,  they  remained  about  a 
"  Week,  and  then  they  came  to  themfelves,  or 
"  to  their  former  Condition  by  little  and  little/' 

The   Light  and  Joy  that  has   operated  in  the 

above  ExtaJieSy  and  Swoon'mgs,  and  Langhlngs,  and 

at  Length  come  to  Fijions  and  Trances,  ha^  beeii 

K  highly 


130  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

highly  fpoken  of  by"  fome  ;    Nay,  it  has  been 
thought  prophane  fo  much  as  to  queftion  its  divine- 
Origin  :     But  the  moil  experienced,  and  celebra 
ted  Divines  have  always  had  other  Sentiments  of 
this  Kind  of  Illumination,  as  well  as  the  Exulting* 
proceeding  from  it.     They  have  carefully  cauti 
oned  againil  it,  as  what  ought  not  to  be  depend 
ed  on  ;  yea,  they  have  effceem'd  it  a  Reproach 
to  have  it  laid,  they  had  a  good  Opinion  of  it. 
Hear  the  Words  of  the  pious  and  learned  Dr. 
OWEN.    Says  he,  *  "  The  Work  of  the  HOLY 
"  SPIRIT,  in  Regeneration,  doth  not  confiil  in  en- 
ff  thiifiaftical  Raptures,   Extajies,   Voices,   or   any 
"  Thing  of  the  like  Kind.     It  may  be,  fbme  fuch 
(f  Things  have  been,  by  fome  deluded  Perfons, 
(e  apprehended  or  pretended  to.     But  the  conn* 
"  tenancing  of  any  fuch   Imaginations  is  falfly 
<tf  and  injurioufly  charged  on  them,  who  main- 
se  tain  the  powerful  and  effectual  Work  of  the 
"  HOLY  SPIRIT  in   our  Regeneration."     And  in 
the    next   Page,     (f  The  HOLY  SPIRIT,    in  this 
fe  Work,  doth  ordinarily  put  forth  his  Power  in 
"  and  by  the  Ufe  of  Means.     He  worketh  alfo 
"  on  Men  fnitably  unto  their  Natures,  even  as 
*'  the  Faculties  of  their  Souls,  their  Minds,  Wills 
<f  and  Aife6lions,  are  meet  tobeaffe6led  andwro't 
<f  upon.     He -doth  not  come  upon  them  with  m» 
"  voluntary  Raptures,   ufing    their  Faculties  and 
'*  Powers,  as  the  evil  Spirit  wreils  the  Bodies  of 
^  them  whom  he  poflefleth  :     His  whole  Work 
C6  therefore  is  rationally  to  be  accounted  for,  by 
"  and  unto  them  who  believe  the  Scripture,  and 
«  have  received  the  SPIRIT  of  Truth,  whom  the 


Hh  Difcourft  concerning  the  HOLT  SPIRIT, 
Page  j  g^. 

«•  World 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.        131 

"  World  cannot  receive."  It  follows  a  few 
Lines  onwards,  <€  This  great  Work  therefore, 
((  neither  in  Part>  nor  whole,  confifts  in  Raptures, 
fe  Exiafies,  Vifions,  enthufiaflic  Infpirations,  but  in 
*f  the  Effeft  of  the  Power  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD 
"  on  the  Souls  of  Men,  by  and  according  to  his 
ff  Word$  both  of  the  Law  and  the  Gofpel  : 
"  And  thofe  who  charge  thefe  Things  on  them 
"  who  have  aflerted,  declared  and  preached  it 
(<  according  to  the  Scriptures,  do  it  probably  ta 
*e  countenance  themfelves  in  their  •  Hatred  of 
«  them,  and  of  the  Work  itfelf."  He  ffill  adds, 
"  Where  by  Reafon  of  Diftemper  of  Mind,  Difor- 
"  ders  of  Fancy,  or  long  Continuance  of  diflrefT- 
ff  ing  Fears  and  Sorrows,  in  and  under  fuch  pre- 
"  paratory  Works  of  the  SPIRIT,  which  fometimes 
f(  cut  Men  to  their  Hearts  in  the  Senfe  of  their 
«  Sin,  and  finful  loft  Condition,  any  do  fall  into 
u  Apprehenfions  or  Imaginations  of  any  Thing 
(f  extraordinary  in  the  Ways  before-mentioned,  if 
"  it  be  not  quickly  and  ftrittly  brought  to  Rule,  atii 
*'  difcarded  thereby,  it  may  be  of  great  Danger  to 
"  their  Souls,  and  is  never  of  any  folid  Ufe  or  Ad- 
"  vantage.  Such  Apprehenfions  jfor  the  moft  Part 
"  are  either  Conceptions  of  diftempered  Minds,  and 
(l  difcompofed  Fancies,  or  Delufions  of  Satan  tranf- 
«f  forming  himfelf  into  an  Angel  of  Light,  which  the 
"  Doftrine  of  Regeneration  ought  not  to  be  ac- 
*e  countable  for."  Very  obfervable  alfo  are  the 
Words  of  our  famous  SHEPARD  to  the  like  Pur- 
pofe.  Says  he  *,  "  There  may  be  in  a  falfe 
"  Heart,  a  ftrange  Knowledge  of  CHRIST  without 
<c  Scriptures,  which  may  ravim  a  Man's  deluded 
"  Heart  ftrangely,  which  is  ufually  the  firil  Temp- 


'*  Parable  of  the  ten  Fir  gins,  P.-  198. 

K  2  "  tatioa 


132  Things  of  a  bad  PART     L  . . 

<s  tation  of  the  Virgin  Churches,  that  are  of  much 
"  Knowledge  and  little  Love,  2  Cor.  n.  2,  3,  4. 
"  Wherein  Satan  doth  not  feek  to  pull  away  Men 
"  to  forfake  the  Gofpel,  but  from  the  Simplicity  of 
"  the  Gofpel. — And  hence  we  have  heard,  that 
*<  feme  have  heard  Voices  ;  fome  have  feen  the  very 
"  Blood  of   CHRIST  dropping    on  them,   and    his 
"  Wounds  in  his  Side  ;  fome  have  feen  a  great  Light 
"  fliining  in  the  Chamber  ;    fome  wonderfully  affeft- 
"  ed  with   their  Dreams  ;    fome  in  great  Diflrefs 
"  have  had  Inward  Witncfs,  thy  Sins  are  forgiven, 
^  and  hence  fuch  LIBERTY  and   JOY  that  they  are 
"  ready  to  LEAP  UP  AND  DOWN  THE  CHAMBER.     O 
<(  adulterous  Generation  !  —  Wo  to  them  that 
*f  have  no  other  mamfefted  CHRIS^  but  fuch  an 
"  one  !"     But  to  go.  on, 

Another  Effect  of  true  Joy  is  Humility,  It  abaf- 
es  a  Man  in  his  own  Eyes.  He  is  herefrom  led 
into  a  low  Apprehenfion  of  himfelf,  and  his  own 
Worthinefs.  He  admires  the  divine  Grace  dif- 
play'd  towards  fuch  a  Worm,  fuch  a  Wretch  / 
With  holy  PAUL,  he  is  ready  to  fay,  By  the  Grace 
of  GOD,  I  am  what  I  am  :  And  inftead  of  en 
tertaining  a  high  Conceit  of  himfelf  in  Compare 
with  others,  he  is  rather  difpos'd  to  prefer  them 
in  Love  ;  efleeming  himfelf  lefs  than  the  kaft  of 
all  Saints. 

Is  this  now  the  Influence  of  the  Joy  of  thefe 
Times  ?  I  hope  it  is  fo  in  Refpecl:  of  fome  ; 
but  of  ho\v  many  may  the  Reverfe  be  juflly  faid  ? 
And  of  thofe  too,  who  have  been  in  high  Rap 
tures.  Who  more  vain  and  proud  than  many  of 
the  Converts  of  the  prefent  Day  ?  Who  more 
puffed  up  with  a  fond  Conceit  of  their  own  fu- 
perior  Attainments  ?  Why  elfe  fo  forward  and  i 

forthr 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         133 

forth-puting  ?  Why  fo  ready  to  think  themfelves 
fit  to  be  Teachers,  and  to  thruil  themfelves  into 
the  Places  and  Offices  of  others  ?  An^l  who  more 
apt  to  defpife  others,  while  they  truft  in  themfelves 
that  they  are  righteous  ?  How  elfe  fhould  that 
be  Ib  often  the  Language  of  their  Pra6tice,  if  not 
of  their  Lips,  Stand  off,  I  am  holier  than  thou  ?  Thefe 
Things  are  too  well  known  to  be  called  in  Queftion  :. 
They  are  indeed  common  all  over  the  Land. 

That  wonderful  Man,  Mr.  BAXTER  mentions 
one'  Thing  as  an  Argument  of  the  want  of 
due  Humiliation,  which  I  can't  help  giving  a 
Place  here.  *<  When  you  begin,  fays  he,*  to  be 
"  leavened  with  Pride,  and  think  highly  of  your 
"  felves,  and  have  good  Conceits  of  your  own 
<f  Parts  and  Performances,  and  would  be  noted 
*'  and  taken  for  fome  Body  among  the  Godly, 
*'  and  cannot  bear  to  be  overlooked,  or  pafl  by  ; 
"  when  you  think  meanly  of  other  Men's  Parts 
(f  and  Duties  in  Comparifon  of  your's,  and  think 
"  yourfelves  as  wife  as  your  Teachers,  and  be- 
«*  gin  to  hear  them  as  Judges  with  a  majeflerial 
"  Spirit,  and  think  you  could  do  as"  well  as  this 
<*  your  felves  ;  when  you  are  finding  Fault  with 
<c  that  which  fhould  nourifh  yon,  and  in  every 
<f  Sermon  are  moft  noting  the  Defects,  and  think 
*<  that  this  you  could  have  mended  ;  when  you 
"  itch  to  be  Teachers  yourfelves,  and  think  your- 
"  felves  fitter  to  preach  than  to  learn,  to  rule  than 
"  be  rukdy  to  anfwer  than  to  ask  for  Refolution  ; 
«  when  you  think  fo  wqll  of  your  felves,  that  the 
*<  Church  is  not  good,  or  pure  enough  for  your  Com- 
<;  pany,  tho'  CHRIST  difowneth  it  not,  and  they 
*(  force  you  not  to  fin  ,*  when  you 


*  His  "fPorks,  Vol.  2.  565. 

K  3  «  a;xl 


134  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI, 

cc  and  aggravate  the  Faults  of  others,  and  extenuate 
"  their  Graces,  and  can  fee  a  Mote  in  another's 
w  Eye,  but  will  difcern  none  of  their  Graces,  if 
*c  they  be  not  as  high  as  Mountains,  and  none  can 
*f  pafs  for  GW/y  with  you  but  thofe  of  the  moft 
"  eminent  Magnitude  ;  when  you  are  itching  af- 
"  ter  Novelties  in  Religion,  and  fetdng  your  Wif- 
*c  dom  againft  the  prefent  or  ancient  Church,  and 
*c  affecting  Singularity  becaufe  you  will  be  of  no 
"  common  Way  ;  when  you  cannot  hear  this 
"  Minifter,  nor  that  Minifter,  though  the  Minifters 
"  of  CHRIST,  and  you  are  harping  upon  that, 
*c  Come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  federate,  as 
"  if  CHRIST  had  called  you  to  come  out  of  his 
"  Church,  when  he  calleth  you  to  come  out  of  the 
"  Company  of  Infidels  :  All  this  cries  aloud  for 
"  further  Humiliation  ;  you  have  a  Tympany  that; 
^  muft  be  prick'd,  to  let  out  the  Wind  that  puffs 
**  you  up.  If  you  be  not  for  Perdition,  and  to  be 
*'  forfaken,  and  given  over  to  yourfehes,  you  mufl 
*c  ""be  fetched  over  again,  and  humbled  with  a  Wit- 
"  nefs.  When  God  hath  turned  you  infide  outward, 
€c  and  ihewed  you  that  you  are  poor,  and  miferable, 
^  and  blind,  and  naked,  and  that  you  are  empty 
*<•  Nothings,  who  thought  fo  well  of  yourfelves* 
"  he  will  then  make  you  ftoop  to  thofe  that  you 
<c  defpis'd,  and  ttiink  your  felves  unworthy  the 
*<  Communion  of  thofe  that  before  you  thought 
unworthy  of  yours.  He, will  make  you  think 
you  are  unworthy  to  hear  thofe  Minifters,  that. 
*'  you  turn'd  your  Back  upon  :  and  he  will  take 
*c  down  your  Teaching,  talking  vain,  and  make  you 
'?'  glad  again  to  be  Learners  :  In  a  Word,  he 
f;  will  make  you  by  Converjion,  as  little  Children, 
"  or  you  ihall  never  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of 
*c  Heaven."  This  I  look  upon  to  be  fo  exacl;  a 
Defcription  pf  thefe  Times  ,*  yea,  and  of  thofe 

Perfous, 


ic 


PART    I.         ttnd  dangerous  Tendency ,         135 

Perfons,  who  have  made  Pretences  to  the  greatefl 
Light  and  Joy,  and  in  the  moft  extraordinary 
Ways,  that  I  can't  but  think  the  Confciences  of 
all  muft  fall  in  with  it.  Upon  which  let  me  add 
the  Words  of  the  fame  Author  that  immediately 
follow,  as  a  Warning  admirably  fuited  to  the  Cir- 
cumflances  of  this  Day,  "  This  fpintual  Pride  is 
"  a  moil  lamentable  Dijeafe,  and  the  Iffue  ufually 
"  exceeding  fad.  For  with  many,  'tis  the  Fore- 
"  runner  of  damnable  Apoftacy,  and  GOD  gives 
<•'  them  over  to  their  own  Conceits,  and  the  Wifdom 
*'  which  they  fo  efteem,  'till  it  hath  led  them  to 
"  Perdition.  And  thofe  that  are  cured,  are  many 
"  of  them  cured  by  the  faddefl  Way  of  any  Men 
«  in  the  World.  For  its  uftial  with  GOD  to  let 
*c  them  alone,  'till  they  have  run  themfelves  into 
"  fome  abominable  Error,  or  fallen  into  fome 
"  mameful  fcandalous  Sins,  'till  they  are  made  a 
"  Hijfing  and  By-word  among  Men,  that  Shame 
«'  and  Confufion  may  bring  them  to  their  Wits, 
"  and  they  may  learn  to  know  what  it  was  that 
*'  they  were  proud  of,  and  fee  that  they  were  but 
'"  filly  Worms:' 

Another  Effeft  of  true  Joy  is  a  becoming  Modejly 
and  Caution  in  the  Affairs  of  Salvation.  If  it 
makes  Perfons  bold  in  their  GOD,  they  are  alfo 
jealous  over  themfelves  with  a  godly  'Jealoitfy  ; 
Their  Boldnefs  is  tempered  with  a  holy  Fear  that 
keeps  them  upon  their  Guard,  and  reftrains  them 
from-  being  over-pofltive  and  confident.  They 
rejoice  in  Hope,  but  with  Trembling  alfo ;  as  being 
aware  of  the  Treachery  of  their  own  Hearts,  33 
well  as  the  fubtle  Devices  of  Satan, 

And  is  this  -generally  the  Character  of  thofe 

•who   have  been  in  Joy,   in  thefe  Days  V,    Are 

K  4  they 


136  Tlnngs  of  a  bad  PART    L 

they  not  rather  too  certain  of  their  good  Eftate^ 
too  peremptory  in  their  AiTurance  ?  Have  they 
not  allow'd  themfelves,  fome  of  them  at  left,  in 
fpeaking  too  unguardedly  upon  this  Head,  being 
as  confident  of  their-  Title'  to  Heaven,  as  tho 
they  were  a£hially  in  PoiTeifion  of  it  ?  I  believe, 
it  will  not  be  pretended,  but  that  many  have 
been  wrought  up,  even  to  an  Extravagance  in  the 
Opinion  they  have  had  of  their  Intereftin  CHRIST, 
and  the  Purchafes  of  his  Blood.  And  is  this  the 
Temper  of  thofe  in  whom  the  Peace  of  GOD 
reigns  ?  It  looks  more  like  the  Spirit  of  thofe 
who  have  been  remarkable  for  the  Warmth  of 
their  Imaginations . 

In  fine,  'Tis  ever  the  Influence  of  true  Joy  ta 
make  Men  better  Chriflians,  more  like  to  GOD 
and  the  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST,  more  eminent  for 
their  Faith  and  Holinefs  ;  and  in  a  Word,  the 
real  Sub  fiance  and  Power  of  Religion  :  Which 
does  not  confift  only  or  mainly  (to  *ufe  the  Words 
of  Mr.  BOLTON  f)  ^  in  outward  Shews,  Profef-? 
"  flon,  Talking  ;  in  holding  ftri6l  Points,  de-* 
<c  fending  precife  Opinions,  contefting  agairift 
^  the  Corruption  of  the  Times  ;  in  the  W°rk 
^  wrought,  external  Forms  of  religious  Exercifes^ 
<(  fet  Tasks  of  Hearing,  Reading,  Confer encea 
<<  and  the  likex ,  in  fome  folemn  outward  extra- 
V  ordinary  AbflinenQes,  Forbearances,  cenfuring 
*<  others,  <$:c.  But  in  kighteoufnefs  and  Peace, 
**"  as  well  as  Joy  in  the  HOLY  GHOST  ;  in  Meek^ 
+'  nefs,  Tender-hear tednefs,  Love;  in  Patience* 
*c  Humility,  Contentednefs  ;  iii  Mortification  of 


His  general  Direction  fw  a  coinfortablff  Walking 
with  GOD>  P.  57,.  58, 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        137 

"  Sin,  Moderation  of  Paffion,  holy  Guidance  of 
€f  the  Tongue  ,•  in  Works  of  Mercy,  Juftice, 
*<  and  Truth  ;  in  Fidelity,  Painfulnefs  in  ones 
<<  Callings,  confcionable  converfing  with  Men  ; 
"  in  Reverence  to  Superiors,  Love  of  our  Ene- 
«  mies,  an  open-hearted,  real,  fruitful  Affection- 
«  atenefs,  and  Bounty  to  GOD's  People  ;  in 
? f  Heavenly-Mindednefs,  Self-Denial,  the  Life  of 
^  Faith  ;  in  Difefleem  of  earthly  Things,  Con- 
«  tempt  of  the  World,  refolute  Hatred  of  Sin  ; 
**  in  approving  our  Hearts  in  GOD's  Prefence, 
<c  a  fweet  Communion  with  him,  comfortable 
*<  Longing  for  the  Coming  of  the  LORD  JESUS 
«  CHRIST,  &c." 

And  is  this  the  Effett  of  the  Joy  that  lias  been 
fo  common  in  thefc  Days  ?  I  cannot  fuppofe,  any 
will  venture  to  fay,  it  has  generally  been  fo.  The 
contrary  hereto  is  evident  to  all  who  have  Eyes 
to  fee  ;  and  if  they  don't  fee,  'tis  becaufe  they 
Ihut  their  Eyes  againfl  the  Light.  This,  in  Part, 
has  been  made  to  appear  already  :  And  'twill 
be  more  undeniable^  the  further  we  go  on  in  this 
Difcourfe. 

I  {hall  only  add,  upon  the  whole,  two  Paflages, 
which  are  well  calculated  for  the  Inftruftion  and 
framing  of  thole,  who  pretend  to  high  Joy  in 
thefe  Times.  The  one  is  from  the  great  MrP 
HOWE.  Says  he,  *  fpeaking  of  the  Joy  of  the 
true  Chriftian,  "  It  is  a  modefl  humble  Exaltation, 
**  a  ferious  fevere  Joy ;  fuitable  to  his  folid,  fla-< 
*f  ble  Hope.  His  Spirit  is  not  puffed  up,  and 


•f  His  Bookj  the  Bleffednep  of  the  righteous.    P. 

444^ 


J38  Things  of  a  bad  PART   L 

"  fwollen  with  Air  ;  'tis  not  big  by  an  Inflation, 
"  or  a  light  and  windy  Tumor  ;  but  'tis  really 
"  filfd  with  effectual  Pre-Apprehenfions  of  a 
"  weighty  Glory.  His  Joy  exceedingly  exerts  it 
<  felf  with  a  Jteady  lively  Vigor,  equally  remo- 
fe  ved  from  vain  Lightnefs  and  Stupidity,  from 
"  Conceitednefs,  and  Infenfiblenefs  of  his  blefled 
(f  State.  lie  forgets  not  that  he  is  lefs  than  the 
*4  leaft  of  GOD's  Mercies,  but  difowns  not  his 
*'  Title  to  the  greateft  of  them.  He  abafes  him- 
€€  felf  to  the  Duft,  in  the  Senfe  of  his  own  Vile- 
"  nefs  ,*  but  in  the  Admiration  of  divine  Grace, 
ec  he  rifes  as  high  as  Heaven.  In  his  Humilia- 
(f  tion,  he  affects  to  equal  himfelf  with  W&nns9 
(i  in  his  Joy  and  Praife  with  Angels.  He  is  never 
"  unwilling  to  diminlfti  himfelf,  but  afraid  of 
"  detracting  any  Thing  from  the  Love  of  GOD, 
"  or  the  Iflues  of  that  Love." 

The  other  is  from  the  celebrated  Mr.  BAXTER. 
*'  GOD,  fays  he  *,  muft  give  us  Joy  itfelf,  as 
"  well  as  aiford  us  Matter  for  Joy  :  But  yet 
"  withall  it  muft  be  remembred,  that  GOD 
u  doth  work  upon  us  as  Meny  and  in  a  rational 
u  Way  doth  raife  our  Comforts.  He  enableth 
<f  and  exciteth  us  to  mind  and  ftudy  thefe  hea- 
"  venly  delightful  Objects,  and  from  thence  to 
ff  gather  our  own  Comforts,  as  the  Bee  doth  ga- 
*c  ther  her  Honey  from  the  Flowers.  Therefore 
((  he  that  is  moft  skilful  and  painful  in  this  ga- 
«  thering  Art,  15  ufually  the  fulleft  of  this  fpiri- 
<<-  tual  Sweetnefs.  Where  is  the  Man  that  can 
«  tell  me  from  Experience,  that  he  hath  folid 
*'  and  ufual  Joy  in  any  other  Way  but  this,  and 
t(  that  GOD  worketh  it  'immediately  on  his  Affec- 


*  ffis  Works,  Vol.  3.  P,  245.  tions 


PART    I,         and  dangerous  Tendency.         139 

<f  tions  without  the  Means  of  his  -Underflanding 
"  and  Confidering  ?  It  is  by  Believing,  that  we 
*c  atfefiU'd  with  Joy  and  Peace,  (Rom.  15.  13.) 
if  and  no  longer  than  we  continue  our  believing, 
"  It  is  in  Hope  that  the  Saints  rejoice  ;  yea,  in 
\  Hope  of  the  Glory  of  GOD,  (  Rom.  5.  2.  ) 
*f  and  no  longer  than  they  continue  hoping. 
"  And  here,  let  me  warn  you  of  a  dangerous 
*<  Snare,  an  Opinion  which  will  rob  you  of  all 
"  your  Comfort.  Some  think,  if  they  ihould  thus 
f(  fetch  in  their  Comfort  by  believing  and  hoping, 
C(  and  work  it  out  of  Scripture  Promifes,  and  ex- 
-"  traft  it  by  their  own  thinking  and  fludying,tha~t 
*f  then  it  would  be  a  Comfort  only  of  their  own 
"  hammering  out,  (as  they  fay)  and  not  the  genuine 
"  fay  of  the  HOLY  GHOST.  A  defperate  Miftake, 
4f  raifed  upon  aGround  that  would  overthrow  almofb 
"  all  Duty,  as  well  as  this,  which  is  their  fetting  the 
(f  Workings  of  GOD's  SPIRIT,  and  their  own  Spirits, 
*<  in  Oppofition,  when  their  Spirits  mud  Hand  in 
"  Subordination  to  GOD's.  They  are  conjunct 
"  Caufes,  co-operating  to  the  Producing  of  one 
"  and  the  fame  Effed.  GOD's  SPIRIT  -  worketli 
"  our  Comforts  by  fetting  our  own  Spirits  awork 
(<  upon  the  Promifes,  and  raifing  our  Thoughts 

"  to  the  Place  of  our  Comforts. GOD  tifeth 

<f  not  to  call  in  our  Joys  while  we  are  idle,  or 
*c  taken  up  with  other  Things.  It  is  true,  he 
"  fometimes  doth  it  fuddenly,  but  yet  ufually  in 
-"  the  forefaid  Order  ;  leading  it  into  our  Hearts 
€(  by  our  Judgment  and  Thoughts.-— GOD  feed- 
€f  eth  not  his  Saints  as  the  Birds  do  their  Young, 
*f  bringing  it  to  them,  and  putting  it  into  their 
<c  Mouths,  while  they  be  ffill  in  the  Neft,  anc( 
*c  only  gape  to  receive  it.  But  as  he  giveth  to 
*f  Man  the  Fruits  of  the  Earth,  the  Increafe  of 
f*  the  Land  in  Cprn  *uid  Wine^  while  we  plow, 

and 


€f 


Things  tf  a  bad  PART    1.  1 

and  fow,  and  weed,  and  water,  and  dung,  and 
drefs,  and  then  with  Patience  expeft  his  Blef- 
fing  ;  So  doth  he  give  the  Joys  of  the  SouL 
46  Yet  I  deny  not,  that  if  any  ihould  fo  think  to 
**  work  out  his  own  Comforts  by  Meditation,  as 
*c  to  attempt  the  Work  in  his  own  Strength,  and 
**  not  do  all  in  Subordination  to  GOD,  nor  per- 
«c  ceive  a  Neceffity  of  the  SPIRIT'S  Affiftance, 
'  ct  the  Work  would  prove  to  be  like  the  Work- 
**  man,  and  the  Comfort  he  would  gather  would 
€C  be  like  both  ;  even  meer  Vanity  :  Even  as 
**  the  Husbandman's  Labour,  without  the  Su% 
«  and  Rain,  and  Blefling  of  GOD," 

The  next  Thing  that  is  amifs,  and  very  much 
fb,  in  thefe  Times,  is  that  Spirit  of  raft,  cenforious 
and  uncharitable  Judging,  which  has  been  fo  pre 
valent  in  the  Land,  This  appeared*  fir  ft  of  aft, 
in  Mr.  W-  —  B,  who  feldom  preadi'd,  but  he  had 
fomething  or  other,  in  his  Sermon,  againfl  uncon 
verted  Mhrifters  :  And  what  he  delivered  ;  efpe-- 
cially,  at  fome  certain  Times,  had  an  evident 
Tendency  to  fill  the  Minds  of  People  with  evil 
Sunnifings  agamft  the  Minifters,  as  tho*  they  were, 
for  the  moft  Part,  carnal,  unre  generate  Wretches, 
He  often  fpake  of  them,  in  the  Lump,  as  Phari- 
fees,  Enemies  of  CHRIST  JESUS*  and  the  wrjt 
Enemies  he  had  :  And  in  Truth,  the  Spirit  of  his 
Preaching,  upon  this  Head,  was  unhappily  calcula 
ted  to  leaven  the  Minds  of  People  with  Prejudices 
againft  the  Jlanding  Minifters  ;  alienating  their 
Hearts  from  them,  and  by  this  Means,  in  the 
moft  effectual  Manner,  obftru6Hng  their  Ufeful- 
Befs.  And  as  though  he  had  not  done  enough, 
in  Preaching,  to  beget  in  People  an  ill  Opinion  of 
the  Minifiers,  he  exprefles  his  Fear,  in  his  Journal  f 

4  P.  95,  ""of 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency. 

of  NEW-ENGLAND,  left  "  many,  nay,  tie  mofl 
<f  preach  do  not  experimentally  know  CHRIST."  This. 
Reiieftion  he  immediately  levels  againft  the  M- 
wfters,  in  this  Land  :  And  its  the  more  ram  and 
uncharitable,  as  he  pall  through  the  Country  la 
Woft-Haftc,  having  neither  Opportunity  nor  Ad 
vantage,  to  know  the  real  Character  of  one  tenth 
Part  of  the  Minifters,  he  thus  freely,  condemns. 
I  don't  think  this  Gentleman  had  it  in  his  Intention* 
by  his  thus  preaching  and  writing,  to '  do  an  Injury 
to  the  Intereft  of  Religion  in  thefe  Churches  £ 
but  if  this  had  really  been  his  Defign,  what  more 
effectual  Method  could  he  have  taken,  than  to 
reprefent  the  Body  of  the  Clergy  as  out  of  CHRIST. 
i.  e.  carnal  and  unconverted  ?  And  if  To,  as  unfir3 
according  to  his  other  Doftrine,  to  be  the  Inftru- 
ments  of  converting  fpiritually  dead  Souls,  as  a 
naturally  dead  Man  is  to  beget  living  Children* 
What  is  the  Tendency  of  fuch  a  Conduct  at  this* 
but  to  fet  People  againft  their  Minifters  as  not 
fit  to  preach  to  them,  and  in  this  Way,  to  fow 
among  them  the  Seeds  of  Contention  and  Sepa 
ration  ? 

I  freely  confefs,  had  the  Minifters  of,  NEW- 
ENGLAND  loft  their  Character  as  Men  of  ReRgion> 
by  a  Deportment  of  themfelves  contradictory  to 
the  Gofpel,  I  fhould  have  found  no  Fault  with 
any  Representations  of  them  as  bad  Men  ;  nay, 
dangerous  Enemies  to  the  Kingdom  of  CHRIST  : 
For  I  am  clearly  of  the  Mind,  that  a  vifibly  wick 
ed  Minifter  is  the  greateft  Scandal  to  Religion,  and 
Plague  to  the  Church  of  GOD  :  Nor  is  it  a  Hurt, 
but  a  real  Service  to  the  Caufe  of  CHRIST,  to  ex- 
pofe  the  Characters  of  fuch,  and  leflen  their 
Power  to  do  Mifchief.  But  the  Cafe  is  evidently 
4ifferent,  where  the  Profejfion  of  Minifters,  and 

their 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

their  Character,  fo  far  as  appears,  agree  with  one 
another  :  'Tis  now  an  Abufe  of  them,  and  an 
Injury  to  the  Church  of  GOD,  to  infinuate  Suf- 
picions  fagainfl  them  ;  much  more,  plainly  to 
fpeak  Evil  of  them.  And  may  it  not  be  faid  of 
the  Body  of  the  Minifters,  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  that 
they  are  a  Set  of  Men,  as  found  in  the  Faith,  and 
of  as  good  a  Life,  as  any  Part  of  the  Chriftian 
World  are  favoured  with  ?  Hear  the  Opinion 
of  that  eminent  Man  of  GOD,  Dr.  COTTON 
MATHER  upon  this  Head.  Says  he,*  in  Anfwer 
to  a  Slander  of  GEORGE  KEITH'S,  upon  the  Mini* 
Jlcrs  of  NEW-ENGLAND,  (f  There  is  not  that  Spot 
"  of  Ground  upon  the  Face  of  GOD's  Earth, 
«f  which  can  proportionably  match  NEW-ENGLAND 
u  for  Minifler  s,  that  not  only  have,  and  ufe  all 
ff  true  Piety,  but  are  alfo  moft  exemplary  for  it. 
*c  No  Man  becomes  a  Minifler  in  our  Churches, 
16  'till  he  fir  ft  be  -a  Communicant  ;  and  no  Man 
"  becomes  a  Communicant,  until  he  hath  been  fe- 
"  verely  examin'd  about  his  Regeneration,  as  well 
"  as  his  Conversation.  If  any  Minifler  do  misbe- 
"  have  himfelf,  he  foon  hears  of  it,  and  becomes 
"  either  a  Penitent,  or  a  depofed  Man.  Let  this 
€*  wicked  SHIMEI  find  fo  much  as  one  ungodly  Man, 
"  allow3 d  as  a  Minifler,  in.  any  one  of  our  Church* 
"  es  !  — :-  Neighbours,  you  are  bleft  with  Mini" 
«  flers  that  excel  in  Piety  ;  and  you  are  very 
"  unjuft,  if  you  do  not  fupport  and  honour  them, 

"  You  have  Reafon  to  be  thankful  for  fuch 

"  holy,  humble,  able,  painful  and  prayerful  Mi- 
«  nijlers,  as  GOD  has  generally  bleft  thefe  Churchef 
«  with  :  And  I  exhort  you,  as  you  would 


See  his  Book  entitujed,  Quakerism,  difflayd,  P. 

"  approve 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        143 

"  approve  your  felves  worthy  to  wear  the  Name 
"  that  was  begun  at  ANTIOCH,  that  you  do  not 
«  forget  that  Command  of  our  LORD,  Heb.  13-17. 
"  Obey  them  that  have  the  Rule  over  you,  andfubmit 
"  yourfelves  ;  for  they  watch  for  your  Souls" 

There  are  yet  other   In/lances  of  uncharitable 
Judging  in  this  Gentleman.     The  fame  Spirit  ap- 
pears  in  his  Journals,  which  are  gone  forth  into 
all  Parts  of  the  Land  ;     but  especially,  in  his 
Letters,  reprefenting  ArchBp.  TiLLoTsoN,as  hav 
ing  no  more  true  Christianity  than  MAHOMET.    It 
would  be  going  too  much  out  of  my  Way,  or  I  could 
|  cafily  mow,  wherein  he  has  greatly  abufed  thb 
\  A.  Bp  ;    more  efpecially,  in  ibme  Things  he  has 
given  the  World  from  Dr.EowARDs,  without  care 
fully  reading  ( as  I  charitably  hope  )  the  Paflages 
quoted,  as  they  lie  in  the  A.Bfis  Writings.    But 
fuppofing  the  A.Bp.  did  not  in  all  Things  think 
exactly  with  Mr.  WHITEFIELD,  muft  he  at  once 
be  as  bad  as  a  TURK  ?     As  ignorant  of  the  Fun 
damentals  of  Religion  ?    As  much  without  GOD 
and  CHRIST,  and  beyond  Hope  ?  Will  Mr.  WHITE- 
FIELD  fo  far  aflume  to  himfelf  the  Prerogative  of 
the  SON  of  GOD,   as  to  determine,  that  the 
Things  contained 'in  the  A.Bp's  Writings  are  ab- 
ifolutely  inconfiftent  with  an  upright  Heart,  a  fin* 
\  cere  Defire  to  know  and  do  the  Will  of  GOD  ? 
And  that  'tis  impoffible,   the  all-merciful  GOD, 
fliould,  according  to  the  Tenor  of  the  Gofpel,  ad 
mit  him  to  Favour  ?    It  appears  to  me  flocking 
Boldnefs,  in  any  meer  Man,  thus  to  place  him- 
I  felf,  as  it  were,  in  the  Throne  of  CHRIST,  and 
denounce  the  Anathemas  of  GOD  againft  his  Fel- 
low-Chriflians  :     Nor  can  I  conceive  how  this 
IhouJd  be,  where  there  is,  in  Exercife,  a  juft 

Senfe 


Things  of  a\>*&  PART    1 

Senfe  of  a  Man's  own  utter  Inefficiency  to  fit  ift 
Judgment  upon  the  State  of  others. 

The  only  Thing  I  can  fay  in  Excufe  for  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD  is,  that  he  was  young  in  Tears,  and 
Chriftian  Experience,  as  well  as  of  raw  Acquaintance 
with  Divinity,  when  he  wrote  thefe  Letters  :  And 
as  it  has  been  common  for  Perfons,  in  thefe  Cir- 
eumftances,  to  fpeak  and  write  with  Rafhnefs  and 
Indifcretion,  and  fo  as  to  do  Mifchief  to  the  In- 
tereft  they  would  ferve  ;  fo  when  they  have 
come  to  riper  Years  and  Judgment,  and  a  better 
Knowledge  of  the  Difficulties  in  many  Points  of 
Divinity,,  they  have  often  feen  their  Error,  and 
repented  of  their  Condu6l :  And  to  this,  I  believe, 
this  Gentleman  will  be  brought,  as  he  has  been 
in  fcme  other  Inftances,  if  he  ever  thinks  upon 
the  Matter  as  he  ought. 

Let  me  add  here,  as  a  further  Reprefentatlott 
of  that  monftrous  Sprit  of  cenforious  Judging  that 
has  been  let  loofe  upon  the  World,  a  few  of  the 
Words  of  Mr.  SEWARD  ;  which  I  the  rather 
chufe  to  infert,.  becaufe  they  are  the  Words  of 
one  of  the  deareft  and  moft  intimate  Friends  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD  had,  and  relate  to  the  Cafe  of  the 
d.Bp.  Says  he  in  his  Journal  f,  (C  I  wrote  fe-< 
"  veral  Letters.-— I  told  him,  fome  few  of  the 
€f  Clergy  admitted  our  Brother  into  their  Pulpits, 
<(  but  that  moft  of  them  were  violent  Oppofers,. 
**  efpecially  fince  our  Brother  has  fo  openly  con- 
*'  demned  AJ$$.  TILLQTSON;  that,  bleffed  b£' 


f  SeGtheBofton-Ewnrng-PoftiNttmb.  280.  where 
thefe  Paffages  are  extracted  from  Mr.SE WARD'S 
Journal. 

?!  GOD, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         145 

"  GOD,  that  DECEIVER  was  at  laffc  difcovcred, 
tf  and  our  Age  muft  have  been  grofiy  wicket., 
<c  or  his  Works  could  never  have  palled  thus  ion^j 
€t  for  current  Gofpel  ;  but  that  I  trailed  in  the 
*'  LORD  JESUS,  he  was  about  to  deliver  his  Church 
(f  from  fuch  BLIND  GUIDES." 

A  little  onwards,  "  concerning  A.Bp.  TILLOT- 
*f  SON  I  obferved,  that  our  Brother  had  wrote  a 
"  fecond  Letter  againffc  him,  which  I  believed 
€C  would  furprife  mofl  People  to  fee  fuc'i  bafe 
"  Coin  fliould  pafs  for  Current  for  fo  many  Ye^rs ; 
"  but  that,  bleffed  be  GOD,  the  TRAITOUR  was 
€f  difcovered.  JUDAS  fold  his  LORD  for  thirty  Pie- 
"  ces  of  Silver,  the  A.Bp  got  a  better  Price,  pcr- 
(c  haps,  THIRTY  BAGS  OF  GOLD,  or  more  :  That's 
tc  all  the  Difference  ;  for  the  A.Bp  was  actually 
*'  bred  in  the  Schools  of  the  Prophets,  was  join  a 
(e  with  many  (  as  I  believe)  faithful  Minifters  in 
"  the  Morning  Lefture  at  Cripple  gate  ;-—  But  the 
*c  Love  of  Money  is  the  Root  of  all  Evil,  and  he 

(f    CHOSE    HIS    GOOD    TlIINGS  HERE,    a    TEMPORAL  ra- 

"  ther  than  an  ETERNAL  CROWN."  And  yet  again, 
cc  Iriclos'd  I  fent  him  our  Brother's  Letters  againil 
<(  that  PLAUSIBLE  DECEIVER  A.  Bp.  TILLOTSON^ 
(f  whofe  Books  have  fo  long  bewitched  the  World.— 
(e  BlefTed  be  GOD,  the  IMPOSTOR  is  difcovered  ; 
"  neverthelefs  our  Brother  expects  for  this  to 
(c  fuffer  many  Things,  and  be  fet  at  Nought  by 
"  the  Rabbies  of  our  Church,  and  perhaps  at  Jaft 
"  be  killed  by  them." 

I  can  fcarce  conceive  wherein  rafh  judging  can 
J3e  carried  to  a  greater  Height  than  in  thefe  Paf- 
fages.  The  Gentleman  is  not  content  with  con 
demning  the  Doftrines.  the  A.Bp.  preached,  but 
fnuft  judge  his  State,  condemn  his  Perfon  ;  which 

L  is 


146  Thing  of  a  bad  PART    L 

is  the  more  furprifmg,  becaufe  h£  was  now  dead, 
and  actually  gone  to  be  judged  by  him,  who  has 
faid,  Why  doft  thou  judge  thy  Brother  ?  Or  why 
doft  thou  Jet  at  Nought  thy  Brother  1  For  we  /ball  all 
ftund  before  the  Judgment  Seat  of  CHRIST. 

I  believe  it  will  not  be  denied,  by  the  more  fo 
ber  Men  among  us,  but  that  thofe  venerable  Di 
vines,  the  late  Dr.  INCREASE  MATHER,  and 
the  prefcnt  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN,  might  know 
as  much  of  the  Nature  of  real  Chrijlianity,  and  be 
as  able  to  make  a  true  Judgment  of  the  Preachers 
of  it,  as  either  Mr.  WHITEFIELD,  or  SEWARD  :  I 
{hall  therefore  fubjoin  here  the  Sentiments  of 
thefe  Gentlemen  concerning  A.Bp  TILLOTSON  ; 
which  may  ferve,  fo  far  as  human  Judgment  is  of. 
Weight  in  the  Cafe,  to  wipe  off  the  Reproach 
that  has  been  injuriouily  call  upon  him. 

The  firft  of  thefe  Gentlemen  exprefles  himfelf  I 
in  thefe  Words  f,  "  That  EMINENT  Perfon,  Dr.  j 
"  TILLOTSON  (the  late  A.Bp  of  CANTERBURY)  did, 
"  not  above  four  Years  ago,  fometimes  exprefs  j 
"  to  me  his  Refentments  of  the  Injury,  which- 1 
u  had  been  done  to  the  firft  Planters  of  NEW-  j 
"  ENGLAND,  and  his  great  Diflike  of  A.Bp  LAUD'S  1 
<c  Spirit  towards  them  :    And  to  MY  KNOWLEDGE 
<c  there  are  Bl/bopf  at  this  Day   (  Anno  1695  )  j 
tc  cf  the  fame  CHRISTIAN  TEMPER  and  Moderati-  j 

"    011    with    THAT     GREAT    AND    GOOD   MAN    LATELY1] 

ff  DEAD. —  Had  the  Sees  in  ENGLAND,  fourfcore  I 
"  Years  ago,  been  fill'd  with  SUCH  A-Bps  and;; 
"  Bifiops  as  thofe  which  KING  WILLIAM  has  pre-  i 


See  his  Preface  to  his  Sons  Book,  Johannes  in 
Eremo. 

ferred 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        147 

fc  ferred  toEpifcopal  Dignity,  there  had  never  been 
(f  a  NEW-ENGLAND.* 

The  other  fpeaks  in  that  Language,*  «  We 
€{  have  feen  the  molt  venerable  Men  in  the 
ff  Church  of  ENGLAND  for  Learning,  Piety,  La- 
<f  bours,  Ufefulnefs,  Prudence,  Meeknefs  and  Hu- 
((  miiity,  infulted  and  outrag'd  while  they  lived, 
c<  pelted  to  their  Graves,  and  their  Names  per- 
(<  fecuted  after  their  Deceafe,  for  their  Spirit  of 
€f  Moderation,  and  faithful  Services  to  the  Church. 
"  So  were  A.Bp.  TILLOTSON  and  Bp.  BURNET, 
f£  Men  of  whom  the  Age  was  not  worthy  ;  of 
*<  CONSPICUOUS  SANCTITY,  abundant  in  Labours, 
"  Heady  in  their  Conduct,  of  UNSPOTTED  INTE- 
<(  GRITY,  of  an  APOSTOLICAL  SPIRIT,  and  ready,  I 
"  believe,  to  have  died  either  for  their  Country, 
fc  or  for  CHRIST  :  Yet  thefe  GREAT  AND  GOOD  MEN 
"  have  been  loaded  with  Obloquy  :  but  their 
(f  Names  mufl  needs'  live  in  the  Hifcory  of  the 
"  Church,  if  TRUTH  do  not  perifh  from  the 
"  Earth."  To  go  on, 

Sometime  after  Mr.  WHITEFIELD'S  Departure 
from  us,  we  had  the  Difcovery  of  the  like  uncha 
ritable  Spirit  in  Mr.  GILBERT  TENNENT.  His 
Preaching  in  this  Town  was  cenforious  beyond  what 
can  be  eafily  imagined.  Says  the  Author  of  the 
Letter ,  in  the  BOSTON- Evening- Pqft,  Numb.  365, 
"  I  have  feveral  Times  heard  Mr.  TENNENT  de- 
"  clare,  that  the  greatefl  Part,  by  far,  of  the 
"  Minifters  in  this  Land,  were  carnal  unconver- 
"  ted  Men,  and  that  they  held  damnable  Armi- 
"  man  Principles  ;  and  have  heard  him  pray, 


Vid.  Preface  to  Mr.  COOPER'S  Ordination  Sermon. 
L  2  "  tTiac 


14 S  Things  of  a  bad  PART  L 

cc  that  the  LORD  would  either  convert   them,  or 
u  turn  them  out  of  ins  Fineyard"     I  have  my  felf 
been  feveral  Times  prefent,  when  he  expreft  him- 
feif  much  to  the  fame  Pur pofe  :     Nay,  I   have 
cften  heard  him  publickly  declare,  that  thofe  who 
were  the  Opfofers  of  the  Work  he  was  carrying 
on,  were  the  Enemies  of  GOD,  and  would  have 
opposed  the  Afvftles  ;    nay,  CHRIST  JESUS  himfelf, 
and  flood  it  out  againft  all  the  Miracles  they  wro't, 
had  they  lived  when  they  were  on  Earth  :   Yea, 
I  have  fometimes  heard  him  openly  fay  ;     and 
this,  without  any  cautionary  Limitations,  that  they 
were  Blafpbemers  of  the  HOLY  GHOST,  and  in  Dan 
ger  of  committing,  if  they  had  not  already  com 
mitted,  that'  Sin,  concerning  which  our  SAVIOUR 
has  faid,  it  (hall  never  be  forgiven  to  Men,  nei 
ther  in  this  World,  nor  in  the  World  to  come.  I 
But  the  Spirit  in  which  this  Gentleman  preach'd, 
particularly  when  he  got  upon  Minifters^  can't  be 
better  conceived  of  than  by  reading  his  -printed 
Sermon^  entitled,  The  Danger  cf  an  unconverted  Mi- 
niftry  ;     than  which  I  never   faw  a  Piece  more 
filled  with  Cenforioufnefs,  or  unhappily  fitted  to  pro 
mote  Difcord  and  Schifm.     'Tis,  in  the  general,  a 
continued  Strain  of  bitter  Reflections  on  the  ftand- 
ing  Miniftry  of  the  Land.     This  is  plainly  infinu- 
ated  in  the  Text  placed  on  the  Title-Page  ;   viz. 
Jer.  5.  30,  31.     A  wonderful  and  horrible  Thing  is 
committed  in  the  Land ;     the  Prophets  prophefy  falfly, 
and  the   Pricfls  bear  Rule  by  their  Means,    and  my 
People  love   to  have  it  fo  :     And  what  will  they  do 
in  the  End  thereof  ?    But   the  Thing  it  felf  is  di- 
reftly  expreft  in  the  flrongefl  Language,   in  the 
Improvement,  of  the  Subjefl ;  the  firft  Head  where 
of  is,  "  If  it  be  fo,  that  the  Cafe  of  thofe,  who 
<f  have  no  other,  or  no  better  than  Pharifee-Teacb- 
"  crsj    is  to  be  pitied,  then  what  a  Scrole  and 

"  Scene 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency,         149 

(f  Scene  of  Mourning  and  Lamentation,  and*  Wo, 
"  is  open'd  !  becaufe  of  the  Swarms  of  Locufts, 
(<  the  Crowds  of  Pharifees,  that  have,  as  covet  eoufly, 
"  as  cruelly,  crept  into  the  Miniflry,  in  this  adtil- 
*?  terous  Generation  !  Who  as  nearly  referable 
"  the  Character  given  of  the  old  Pharifees,  in  the 
"  doftrinal  Part  of  this  Difcourfe,  as  one  Crow's 
"  Egg  does  another.  It  is  true,  fome  of  the  mo- 
"  dern  Pharifees  have  learned  to  prate  a  little  more 
"  orthodox  ly  about,  the  New- Birth,  than  their  Pre- 
ff  deceflbr  Nicodeinus,  who  are,  in  the  mean  Time, 
"  as  great  Strangers  to  the  feeling  Experience  of 
"  it  as  he.  They  are  blind  who  fee  not  this  to 
"  be  the  Cafe  of  the  Body  of  the  Clergy  of  this 
*'  Generation.  And  O  !  that  our  Heads  were 
"  Waters,  and  our  Eyes  a  Fountain  of  Tears, 
tf  that  we  could  Day  and  Night  lament,  with  t{ie 
><  utrnofl  Bitternefs,  the  doleful  Cafe  of  the  poor 
v  Church  of  GOD  upon  this  Account."  —  But 
this  Gentleman,  I  would  hope,  is  now  become  more 
charitable.  His  Letters,  in  the  .pub lick  Prints,  cer 
tainly  avow  fuch  Principles  as  are  a  virtual  Retrac 
tation  of  a  great  Part  of  this  Sermon  ;  though  I 
could  wifli  he  had  mentioned  the  Sermon  by  Name, 
and  own'd  his  over-Zeal  when  he  wrote  it.  This 
he  has  done  to  a  private  Friend  in  this  Town  ; 
and  if  he  had  done  it  to  the  World,  I  am  fure, 
he  would  hereby  have  honoured  himfelf,  and 
might  have  given  Check  to  thofe  uncomfortable 
Heats  and  Animojities,  which  this  Sermon  has  had 
fome  Influence  in  fomenting,  in  one  Place  and 
another. 

After  Mr.  TENNENT,  there  arofe  a  eonfiderable 
JSTumber  of  other  Itinerants,  who  weat  for:h  in 
the  Spirit  of  Bitternefs,  fowing  the  Seeds  of  Dif- 

'  and  Uncharitabknefs  all  over  the  Land.    The 

La  r 


150  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 


Writer  of  the  Letter  in  the 
Numb.  365,  obferves  of  them,  (e  that  the  Engine 
"  which  they  artfully  manage  is  that  of  Detrac- 
<(  tion  :    Accordingly,  in  every  Place  where  they 
"  come,  in  the  Courfe  of  their  Perigrination,  their 
"  grand  Bufmefs  is  to  perfwade  the  People,  that 
"  their  Ministers  are  unconverted,  to  alienate  their 
"  Affe&ions  from  them,  and  thereby  utterly  to 
"  deflroy  their  Ufefulnefs  among  their  Hearers. 
*<  From  which  Practice  it  is  very  juft  to   infer, 
"  that  there  is  a  Defign  carrying  on  to  fubvert 
€e  and  ejeft  the  ftanding  fettled  Minifters."     He 
goes  on  in  the  next  Paragraph,  ce  The  Minifters 
"  of  this  Land,  I  have  often  faid,  and  continue 
(C  ftill  of  the  fame  Opinion,  are  a  Set  of  Gentle- 
cc  men,  as  found  in  Principle,  and  exemplary  in  their 
€C  Converfatiun,  as  any  of  the  like  Number,  in  the 
"  Chriftian  World  :     And  I  confefs,  it  has  fome- 
€c  times   rais'd  in  me  the   highefl    Indignation, 
€(  to  hear  them  revil'd  in  fo  publick  and  outragi- 
"  ous  a  Manner,  even  in  the  Prefence  of  fome 
ff  of  the  mofl  grave  and  eminent  Divines  among 
"  us."       He  ftill  adds,  "  It  has  been  no  final! 
€c  Surprife  to  me,  when  I  have  fometimes  feen 
*<  in  thefe  Aflemblies,  a  Number  of  grave  and 
"  lerious  Men,  Members  of  our  Churches,  wha 
*'  could  hear  thefe  imjuft  and  hard.  Speeches  belch- 
cc  ed  out  againft  their  own  proper  Paftors,  not  only 
"  with  Patience,  but  with  Pleafure.     At  the  fame 
<c  Time,  if  you   were  to  ask  thefe  Men,  they 
ff  would  tell  you  that  they  highly  efteem  aud  value 
"  their  own  Minifters  :     But  can  this  be  poflibly 
"  true  ?  Will  any  one  believe  them,  while  they 
"  not  only  carefs,  and  adore  the   Itinerants,  but 
ce  continually  pamper  their  Bodies,  clothe  their  Sacks, 
*'  and  fill  their  Pockets." 


PART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         151 

I  have  my  felf  been  Part  of  a  crowded  Ajjembly, 
when  one  of  thefe  Itinerants  has  mentioned  the 
prefent  Bp  of  LONDON  by  Name,  and  uttered  it 
with  a  Voice  like  Thunder,  "  That  if  the  People 
of  his  Diocefs  mould  come  up  to  all  that  he  pre- 
fcribes  in  his  paftoral  Letters  to  them,  and  be  the 
very  Perfons  he  would  have  them,  they  would  not- 
withflanding  as  certainly  be  damn'd  as  the  Blble^ 
he  then  had  in  his  Hand  was  the  Word  of  the  e- 
ternal  GOD"  At  the  fame  Time,  I  heard  him 
fray  for  the  Minifters  of  BOSTON,  fonie  of  whom 
he  as  freely  intimated  in  his  -Prayer  to  be  in  an 
unconverted  State,  as  if  he  had  been  their  author!/- 
ed  Judge.  And  in  a  Letter  to  me,  giving  an  Ac 
count  of  the  Condu6l  of  this  fame  Gentleman,  the 
worthy  Writer  mentions  fome  Things,  he  was  an 
Ear-Witnefs  to,  which  expreft  the  groj/eft  Uncha- 
ritablenefsy  not  only  towards  the  Colleges  in  gene 
ral,  but  the  Governours  of  them  in  particular  : 
And,  at  the  fame  Time,  he  heard  him  publickly 
fay  of  A.Bp  TILLOTSON,  "  That  when  he  wrote 
"'his  printed  Sermons,  GOD  knew  he  had  not  a 
"  Spark  of  faving  Grace  :  And  if  he  was  not  con- 
"  verted  afterwards  •,  he  was  now  weltering  under  the 
"  fcalding  Drops  of  GOD's  Wrath  In  Hell,  there  to 
*f  remain  a  Monument  of  his  Vengeance  throughout 
"  Eternity." 

But  the  mod  remarkable  Inftancc,  in  this  Kind, 
is  the  Rev.  Mr.  JAMES  DAVENPORT  of  SOUTHOLD. 
He  travelled,  fays  the  Letter  to  the  BCSTON- 
Poft-Boy,  Number  391,  from  STONINGTON  to 
NEW-HAVEN,  about  80  Miles,  and  condemn'd 
almofl  all  the  Miniilers  ;  particularly,  that 
finning  Example  of  Piety,  and  Pillar  (f  our  Cbur- 
ches,  the  aged  and  venerable  Mr.  ADAMS,  and 
commanded  his  People  to  withdraw  from  him  : 

L  4  "'And 


(( 


1 5 2  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

fc  And  accordingly  a  Number  of  the  Communi- 
"  cants  withdrew  from  him,  as  being 'a  carnal,  old 
"  Pharifee."  This  was  objected  to  him  by  the 
Minijiers  in  BOSTON,  when  ne  came  to  this  Town, 
iome  Months  ago.,  as  fent  by  GOD,  to  preach 
here.  He  own'd  the  Fact  ;  ,  as  alfo,  that  he  had 
fad  out  a  few  Minutes  Converfation  with  Mr. 
ADAMS  before  he  publickly  expreft  his  Fears  of  his 
le:  ig  an  -unconverted  Man  ;  and  that  the  Ground 
of  his  Judgment  of  him  as  unconverted  was,  u  his 
"  not  finding  that  he  had  had  Experience  of  a 
(f  Hatred  of  GOD,  and  of  extraordinary  Comforts  and 
"  j°ys-'  When  that- had  been  obferved  to  him, 
by  one  of  the  Miniflers,  which  tended  much  to 
the  Honour  of  Mr.  ADAMS  ;  another  took  Oc- 
cafion  to  ask  him,  whether  he  had  felt  no  Unea- 
fineis  in  his  Mind,  when  he  reflected  on  the  un-  1 
happy  Effects  of  his  condemning  Mr.  ADAMS,  and 
adviiing  the  People  to  feparate  from  him,  in  the 
Contention  and  Divijion  it  had  brought  forward  in 
NEW-LONDON  :  His  Reply  was,  f'That  he  had  of 
ten  thought  of  the  Matter  with  Thankfulnefs  to 
GOD,  who  had  made  him  faithful,"  and  gave 
Glory  to  GOD  for  this  his  notorious  Uncharitable- 
r*efs,  in  the  Face  of  all  the  Minifters. 

I  have  now  by  me  Accounts  of  the  Jlrange 
Spirit  of  raft?  and  uncharitable  Judging^  this  Gentle- 
wan  has  discovered  in  many  Places  where  he  has 
been.  Some  of  them  I  ihall  think  fit  to  infers 

here. 

The  firft  is  dated,  SAY- BROOK,  Auguft  25.  1741, 
/nd  is  in  the  following  Words,  "  On  this.  Day, 
f;  che  Rev.  Mr.  JAMES  DAVENPORT  of  SOUTHOLD, 
"  came  to  che  Chamber  of  WILLIAM  HART  of  SAY- 
f?  BUOOK,  Pallor  of  the  firjl  Church  there,  and 

"  ask'd 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency         153 

«  ask'd  him,  whether  he  was  willing  that  he,  the 
*'  faid  DAVENPORT,  fhould  preach  in  his  Pulpit  that 
f(  Day  r  Upon  which  faid  HART  told  him,  that 
ff  there  were  fome  Things  in  his  Conduct,  which 
"  he  defir'd  to  inquire  and  receive  Satisfaction 
"  about,  firfl  of  all;  to  which  faid  DAVENPORT 
"  confenting,  it  was  inquir'd  of  him,  among  o- 
<c  ther  Things,  whether  he  had  not  openly  char- 
"  ged  fundry  of  his  Fathers  and  Brethren  in  the 
"  Miniftry,  as  being  unconverted  and  blind  Guides  ? 
"  To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  had  ;  and 
ff  did  freely  do  it,  when  he  judged  fo  of  any. 
"  It  was  then  further  inquired  of  him,  upon 
"  what  Grounds  he  did  fo,  and  what  Evidence  he 
*<  gave  the  Publick  of  the  Truth  of  his  Cen- 
"  fares  ?  To  which  he  anfwered,  that  he  did 
ff  this  with  a  View  to  the  Purification  of  the 
"  Church,,  to  the  Difcovery  of  thofe  that  are  un- 
"  converted,  that  they  may  be  avoided,  &c.  It 
ff  was  further  inquired  of  him,  whether  he  did 
"  freely  and  openly  declare  to  People,  whofe  Ml- 
ff  niflers  he  did  judge  to  be  unconverted,  that  they 
ff  ought  not  to  attend  upon  their  Miniftry,  but 
*'  advis'd  them  to  go  to  other  Churches,  where 
*'  Minifters  were  converted,  to  attend  Worfhip ;  or 
"  if  they  could  not,  then  to  fet  up  private  fepa- 
"  rate  Meetings,  to  carry  on  the  Worfhip  of  GOD 
f(  among  themfelves  ?  To  which  he  anfwered, 
^  that  he  did  freely  do  fo,  and  would  have  Men 
"  go  ten  or  twenty  Miles  to  hear  a  converted  Mi- 
<c  nifler,  or  even  fet  up  private  Meetings  among 
"  themfelves,  rather  than  attend  Worfliip  un- 
"  der  their  own  Minifters,  being  unconverted  ; 
"  and  that  Parifh-Bounds  are  nothing  ;  and  that 
"  himfelf  would  go  ten  Miles  on  Foot  to  hear  a 
?*  private  Brother,  rather  than  an  unconverted  Mini- 
*<  fter.  Upon  this,  being  told  the  Liberty  of  the 


J54  Things  of  a  bad  PART   I. 

"  Pulpit  could  not  be  granted  him,  unlefs  he 
u  would  firft  retract  thefe  Things,  declare  his 
«'  Repentance  of  them,  engaging  to  conduct  re- 
€€  gularly  for  the  Time  to  come  ;  he  reply 'd, 
"  that  he  could  not  do  this  without  pleafing  Men 
(f  rather  than  GOD :  And  then,  riflng  to  depart,  he 
"  addreft  himfelf  to  his  Attendants,  faying,  Come, 
<f  let  us  go  forth  without  the  Campy  after  the  LORD 
ft  Jefus9  bearing  his  Reproach  ;  and  fmiling  faid, 
*'  O  this  is  pleafant  to  fuffer  Reproach  for  the 
"  BLESSED  JESUS  /  SWEET  JESUS  /"  To  the  Truth 
"  of  all  which,  we  whofe  Names  are  under 
written,  do  teftify  j  having  been  Eye  and  Ear- 
Witneffes  to  the  above  Conference. 

SAMUEL  LYNDE, 
WM.  WORTHINGTON, 
ABRAHAM  NOT, 
GEORGE  BECKWITII, 
WILLIAM  HART,  and  others,, 

Another  Account  from  the  fame  Place,  bearing 
Date  Augufl  26.  1741.  runs  thus,  "  This  Day, 
'•  about  half  an  Hour  after  eleven,  the  Reverend 
"  Meffieurs  WILLIAM  WORTHINGTON,  ABRAHAM 
"  NOT,  GEORGE  BECK  WITH,  and  WILLIAM  HART, 
"  went  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  DAVENPORT'S  Lodgings 
"  in  Town,  with  Defign  to  difcotirfe  further  with 
"  him,  upon  thofe  Things  in  his  public  Condudl, 
"  which  had  been  objected  to  him  the  Day  be- 
<f  fore  at  Mr.  HART'S  Chamber  :  Upon  their 
*'  coming  in,  Mr.  DAVENPORT,  who  was  above 
*<  Stairs,  fent  Word  he  would  come  down,  which 
"  he  prefently  did  ;  and  after  fitting  a  few  Mo- 
"  ments  prevented  them  by  beginning  a  Dif- 
^  courfe,  which  he  dire6led  to  them,  but  with- 
*'  out  mentioning  either  of  their  Names  :  In 

this 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        155 

"  this  Difcourfe  he  fpake  of  them,  and  to  them, 
*<  as  unconverted  Minifters,  and  very  freely  repre- 
«•  fented  them  as  Wolves  in  Sheep's  Cloathing,  blind 
*'  Guides,  Enemies  to  GOD  and  his  Caiife  in  the 
"  World,  and  P  erf  editors  of  CHRIST  in  the  Perfon 
u  of  himfelf  his  Servant  ;  and  compar'd  them  to 
if  GOLIAH,  who  prophanely  defied  the  Armies  of  the 
ff  living  GOD  ;  laid,  he  wiih'd  their  Converfion, 
"  Ihould  rejoice  in  it,  and  wiih'd  to  GOD  he 
<4  would  ftrikd  them  through  immediately,  and 
<f  convert  them,  and  a  great  Deal  more  of  the 
"  like  Kind.  During  this  Difcourfe,  one  of  the 
"  above-mentioned  Minifters  attempted  twice  to 
*'  fpeak,  in  order  to  turn  the  Difcourfe  to  what 
"  they  came  for,  but  Mr.  DAVENPORT  would  not 
"  be  interrupted,  but  went  on  without  regarding 
"  them,  and  addreft  himfelf  to  his  Brethren1  pre- 
*(  fent  ,•  exhorting  them  to  pray  for  the  uncon- 
<'  verted  Minifters  then  prefent,  and  fuddenly 
"  took  his  Chair,  and  prayed  over  them  a  Prayer 
"  of  fome  Length,  agreeable  to  his  preceeding 
46  cenforious  and  vilifying  Difcourfe, 'both  as  to 
f(  Matter,  and  Manner,  and  Spirit.  Sometimes 
u  he  prayed  for  them,  and  fometimes  aga'mjt 
*'  them.  When  this  was  over,  Mr.  HART  told 
"  him,  that  he  and  the  other  Minifters"  were 
((  come  down  to  wait  upon  him,  with  a  View  to 
*'  difcourfe  freely  with  him  upon  thofe  Things 
"  in  his  Conduft,  which  ha'd  been  obje61ed  to 
u  him  the  preceeding  Day  ;  and  defir'd  to  enter 
<c  into  Conference  with  him  about  them,  that  he 
"  might  juftify  them  if  he  could,-  but  he  declin'4 
^  it,  faying,  there  was  no  Time  for  it  before  Meet- 
*(  ing.  He  being  then  ask'd,  whether  he  would 
cc-  give  them  Opportunity  for  a  free  Conference, 
"  at  fome  other  Time,  before  his  Departure  from 
"  the  Town,  he  anfwered  that  he  would  confider 

«  of 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  of  it,  and  that,  if  it  appeared  mofl  for  the  Glory 
fc  of  GOD  he  would  ;  but  if  it  fliould  appear 
"  more  for  GOD's  Glory  for  him  to  fpend  the 
**  Time  that  might  be  employed  in  difcourfmg 
*f  on  thefe  Matters,  in  praying  for  him  the  faid 
"  HART,  that  he  might  be  converted,  then  he 
"  would  fpend  it  fo.  After  fome  other  Things 
fi  had  part  not  worth  mentioning,  he  left  the 
f(  Room,  and  returned  to  his  Chamber  without 
<c  taking  Leave/'  To  the  Truth  of  the  above 
Narrative,  we,  whofe  Names  are  fubfcribed,  do 
teftify,  having  been  Eye  and  Ear-WitneiTes  to 
what  paft  at  that  Time. 

WM.  WoRTHINGTONj 

WM.  HART, 

SAMUEL  CLARK. 

The  Account  from  another  Part  of  the  Coun 
try,  as  I  have  it  in  a  Letter  to  me,  is  thus,  "Of 
"  all  (i,  e.  the  Itinerants)  that  have  been  here, 
"  Mr.  DAVENPORT  hath  been  the  moft  irregular 
*'  and  diforderly  in  his  Conducl.  When  he  came 
"  firfl  to  Town,  he  called  at  my  Lodgings,  and 
((  let  me  know  that  fome  of  the  People  had  de- 
"  fir'd  him  to  preach  that  Evening,  and  asked 
"  my  Confent  to  his  Preaching  in  the  Meeting- 
"  Houfe  :  I  reply'd,  that  before  I  refolv'd  him, 
(C  I  muft  defire  of  him  Satisfaclion  in  two  Points  ; 
*f  viz.  by  what  divine  Warrant  he  left  his  own 
<(  People,  arid  travelled  through  the  Country,  ac- 
*f  ting  the  Super- Intendant  over  the  Churches  ? 
**  And  how  he  juftified  his  cenjorioujly  judgingMen, 
v  and  efpecially  Minijlers,  as  he  had  done  ?  To 
"  which  Queries,  he  gave  me  no  fatisfa6lory  An- 
t<  fwers  3  and  thereupon  was  denied  the  Liber- 
$'  ty  of  the  Houfa  He  then  proceeded  to  inquire 

"  into 


(C 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.        157 

"  into  my  fpiritual  State  ;  but  an  Account  there* 
*f  of  was  refus'd  him,  until  he  mewed  his  right 
ff  to  demand  it  :  And  thereupon  he  expreffed 
"  his  Fears  that  I  was  a  Stranger  to  CHRIST;  and 
u  faid,  that  my  refufmg  to  give  him  an  Account 
"  was  a  dark  Sign  thereof.  After  this,  he  foon 
tc  departed  the  Houfe  :  And  having  mounted 
"  his  Horfe,  with  his  Company  at  the  Door,  they 
"  fet  a  Tune,  and  rodefinging  through  the  Town, 
all  the  Way  to  his  Lodgings,  which  was  near 
a  Mile.  He  preached  at  the  Place  where  he 
lodged  that  Evening,  and  the  next  Forenoon  ; 
and  the  following  Evening,  in  his  public  Exer- 
cifes,  he  declared  the  Minifter  of  the  Place  un 
converted,  and  prayed  for  him,  fundry  Times, 
that  he  might  be  either  converted  or  confounded. 
"  He  warned  the  People  to  withdraw  from  my 
"  Miniftry  ;  declaring,  that  to  attend  it  would 
*c  be  as  dangerous  to  their  Souls,  as  Bowls  of  Pol- 
"  fon  to  their  Bodies." 

The  like  Spirit  he  difcovered  at  NEW-HAVEN. 
Says  the  Letter  in  the  BOSTON- Pofl-Poy,  f  "  Mr. 
(C  DAVENPORT,  in  almoft  every  Prayer,  vents  him- 
"  felf  againft  the  Minifter  of  the  Place,  and  of- 
f(  ten  declares  him  to  be  an  unconverted  Man  ; 
<e  fays,  that  Thoufands  are  now  curjing  him  in  Hell 
<'  for  being  the  Instrument  of  their  Damnation.  He 
"  charges  all  to  pray  for  his  Deftru6lion  and 
"  Confufion  :  He  frequently  calls  him,  a  Hy- 
"  pocrite,  a  Wolf  in  Sheep's  Cloathing,  and  a  Lfevil 
"  incarnate  :  And  ufes  fuch  vile  and  opprobri- 
"  ous  Language,  as  that,  had  it  been  done  by  any 
"  other  Man,  he  would  have  been  immediately 


«  fent 


158  Things  of  a  ^A  PART    I. 

*c  fent  to  theWo'rk-Houfe.  I  think  that  few  or  none 
"  of  his  greateft  Admirers  undertake  peremptorily 
*<  to  juffcify  thefe  Things ;  but  they  have  conceiv- 
*'  ed  fuch  an  extraordinary  Opinion  of  his  Ho- 
(C  linefs  and  Succefs,  as  that  they  feem  to  luppofe 
ff  that  he  has  fome  extraordinary  Ajjiftame,  or  Com- 
"  mijjlon  to  do  that  which  may'nt  be  done  by 
€€  any  other  Man.  " 

Agreeable  hereto  is  the  Account  in  the  fame 
Paper.  Numb.  392.  "  NEW-HAVEN,  Sept.  21. 
"  1741.  Sundry  of  the  Brethren  of  the  Church 
ff  in  NEW-HAVEN,  being  offended  at  Mr.  DAVEN- 
<f  PORT'S  publickly  condemning  their  Paftor,  the 
"  Rev.  Mr.  No  YES,  as  an  unconverted  Man  ;  call- 
"  ing  him  a  Wolf  in  Sheep's  Cloathing,  with  many 
<c  other  the  like  opprobrious  Expreflions,  being 
"  met  together  at  the  Houfe  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
"  NOYES,  defir'd  Mr.  DAVENPORT  to  give  the 
"  Reafons,  why  he  has  thus  reproached  and  fcan- 
"  dalis'd  their  Pajtor  :  Which  he  did  as  follows, 
"  viz, 

cc  i.  That  a  Woman  told  him,  that  me  catme 
"  to  Mr.  NOYES'S  under  Convittion,  and  faid  that 
"  me  was  the  greatefl  Sinner  in  the  World  ; 
"  and  that  Mr.  NOYE'S  endeavoured  to  abate 
ic  her  Convi6lions  :  I'o  which  Mr.  NOTES  re- 
«  plied, 

"  That  he  did  not  remember  the  Inftance  ; 
"  but  fuppofed  it  might  be  thus,  viz.  That  he 
"  might  tell  her,  chat  me  was  a  very  great  Sin- 
«c  ner,  and  that  me  ought  to  be  fenfible  of  it,  and 
"  more  fenfible  of  her  own  Sins  than  of  any  other 
"  Perfon's  in  the  World ;  but  that  he  did  not  fup- 
*<  pofe  flie  was  really  the  great-eft  Sinner  in,  the 

World. 


PRAT    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        159 

"  World.  Upon  this,  Mr.  DAVENPORT  declared, 
"  thatMr.  NOYES'S  faying  fo,  was  an  Evidence  to 
f(  him  that  he  was  an  unconverted  Man  ;  and 
"  afterward,  in  explaining  himfeif  upon  the  Word 
"  Evidence  faid,  that  it  gave  him  Reafon  to  be- 
*'  iieve  it  was  fo. 

2.  Another  Reafon  was,   becaufe  Mr.   NOYES 
€ {  aifumed  an  Honour  to  himfeif,  in  the  Miniftry, 
<c  which  did  not  belong  to  him,  becaufe  a  Wo- 
(€  man  told  him  that,  fome  Years  ago,  me  came 
<c  to  Mr.  NOYES,  and  brought  a  Relation  where- 
"  in  (he  mentioned  the  Names  of  feveral  Mini- 
6f  flers,  whom  fhe  fuppofed  had  been  inftrumental 
"  of  her  Converjion,   and  Mr.   NOYES   ask'd   her 
((  if  he  had  not  alfo  done  fomething  towards  her 
"  Converfion,  and  ask'd  her  why  his  Name  was 
"  not  mentioned  :     Mr.  DAVENPORT  alfo  added, 
f(  that  feveral  other  Perfons  had  told  him,  that 
<c  Mr.  NOYES  diflik'd  their  Relations  becaufe  there 
"  were  fo  many  Names  in  them  befides  his.     To 
"  which  Mr.  NOYES  replied, 

fc  That  he  did  not  remember  any  fuch  Thing, 
"  and  was  confident  that  it  was  a  Mifreprefenta- 
«  tion. 

3.  Another  Reafon  was,  that  Mr.  NOYES  was 
ff  not  a  Friend  to  this  Work   going  on   among 
"  them  ;     and  that  he  did  not  countenance  2ti- 
"  nerant  Preachers  ;     and  that  feveral  Perfons 
"  had  told  him  that  they  came  to  Meeting  with 
"  their  Affections  rais'd,  and  that   Mr.  NOYES'S 
"  Preaching  deadned  and  difcouraged  them,  and 
«  tended  to  ftifle  their  Conviftions.     To  which 
Jf  Mr.  NOTES  reply'd, 

That 


i  <5o  flings  of  a  bad  PART     L 

rc  That  his  Preaching  and  Condutt  in  thefe 
(<  Things  were  publickly  known,  and  that  every 
*•  one  was  capable  of  Judging  without  his  faying 
•**  any  Thing  upon  them. 

"  4.  That  Mr.  NOYES,  in  private  Conyerfation 
(C  with  Mr.  DAVENPORT.,  had  faid  to  this  Effeft, 
ff  that  he  had  been  deeply  fenfible  of  the  Vile- 
*(  nefs  and  Corruption  of  his  own  Nature  ;  and 
"  that  every  one  that  turned  his  Thoughts  in- 
"  ward  might  eafily  have  fuch  a  Senfe  :  and 
"  that  Mr.  No  YES,  feem'd  to  fuppofe  that  it  was 
"  an  eafy  Thing  ;  that'  Mr.  DAVENPORT  thence 
"  concluded,  that  he  had  never  experienced  it 
"  himfelf.  To  which  Mr.  NOYES  replied, 

"  That  he,  at  that  Time,  utterly  refus'd  to  give 
"  Mr.  DAVENPORT  any  Account  of  his  Experien- 
<c  ces  ;  but  that  they  had  fome  Difcourfe  upon 
u  fome  doftrinal  Points,  but  he  could  not  think 
"  that  Mr.  DAVENPORT  could  reafonably  under- 
<c  Hand  him,  to  mean  or  intend,  that  every  natu- 
tc  ral  Man  had  a  Senfe  of  the  Vilenefs  and  Cor- 
<c  ruption  of  his  Nature,  or  that  it  was  an  eafy 
u  Thing  to  have  it.  Several  Things  were  faid 
"  upon  this  Head  which  could  not  eafily  be  mi- 
*<  nuted  down  ;  but  on  the  whole,  there  feem- 
*6  ed  to  be  a  Mifunderitanding  between  them. 

<f  Upon  the  whole  Mr.  DAVENPORT  declared, 
"  that  thefe  Reafons  were  fufficient  to  juflify  him 
"  in  cenfuring  and  condemning  Mr.  NOYES  as  he  had 
"  done  :  Then,  he  faid  he  would  make  a  Sort 
f(  of  Acknowledgment  ;  and,  without  any  No- 
"  tice  given,  while  divers  in  the  Room  were 
"  talking  loud,  and  others  fmoaking,  and  fome 
"  with  their  Hats  on,  he  began  a  Prayer  ;  but 

«  their 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         161 

cc  there  being  fo  much  Noife  in  the  Room,  he 
(f  was  hardly  heard  at  firft  :  Many  kept  on 
*'  talking,  others  cry'd  out  flop  him;  the  Revd, 
cc  Mr.  NOTES  fpoke  once  or  twice,  and  faid,  Mr. 
"  DAVENPORT,  I  forbid  your  praying  in  my  Houfe 
"  without  my  Leave  ;  but  he  perfifted,  and 
(e  went  on  in  the  midft  of  the  greateft  Noife,  Con- 
ff  fufion  and  Confternation,  and  declar'd  Mr. 
f<  NOTES  an  unconverted  Man,  and  Us  People  to  be 
"  as  Sheep  without  a  Shepherd,  and  prayed,  that 
((  what  he  had  now  faid  might  be  a  Means  of 
cc  his  and  their  Converjion  :  Or  elfe,  according  to 
"  thy  -Will  let  them  be  confounded  ;  and  after  that 
"  Manner  went  on  near  a  Quarter  of  an  Hour. 
<c  And  when  he  had  done,  Mr.  NOTES — forbid 
"  him  ever  going  into  his  Pulpit  any  more  ;  and 
"  fome  declar'd  to  Mr.  DAVENPORT,  that  his  pray- 
"  ing  in  that  Manner  was  a  taking  the  Name  of 
"  GOD  in  vain  :  And  fo  the  Aflembly  broke  up 
u  in  great  Confternation. 

ft  This  is  the  Truth  according  to  the  beft  of 
"  our  Remembrance  ;  and  the  Subftance  of  the 
"  Conference  was  minuted  down  at  the  Time  of 
<c  it,  and  publickly  read  to  Mr.  DAVENPORT,  and 
"  thei-eft  immediately  after. 

THOMAS  CLAP       "")    Rector  of  YALE-COLLEGE, 


JOHN  PUNDERSON   1 
OHN  MUNSON 
THEOPH.  MUNSON  i 


THEOPH.  MUNSON  f       '    Subfcribers- 
ANDREW  TUTTLE 
SAMUEL  Mix          J 

The  fame  uncharitable  cenforlous  Spirit,  this  Gen* 

tleman  brought  with  him  to  BOSTON.      I  cannot 

give  a  better  Idea  of  it  then  by  inferring,  at  large, 

M  the 


I  to  Thirds  of  a  bad  PART    L  I 

the  Account  in  the  BOSTON- Evening- P oft,  Number  | 
370.     It  runs  thus.     "  The  late  Profecution  of  j 
"  Mr.  JAMES  DAVENPORT,  being  fomewhat  extra-  I 
"  ordinary  (as  was  alfo  his  Offence  which  procur-  E 
(f  ed  the  fame)  has  doubtlefs  occaflon'd  various  I 
"  Speculations,  not  only  in  this  Town,  but  thro'  I 
"  the  whole  Country.     And  inafmuch  as  manyli 
"  hard  and  unjuft  Cenfures  have  been  plentifully  | 
"  beftow'd  on  the  Grand  Jury,  and  Witnejfes  con- 1 
"  cern'd  in  that  Profecution,  by  weak,  ignorant  \ 
"  and  enthitfiaftical  Perfons  ;     it  may  not  be  im-* 
tf  proper  to  publifh  the  Preferment,  exhibited  by 
*c  the  Grand  Jury  to  the  Court  againft  Mr.  DA- 
"  VENPORT,  with  the  feveral  Fafts  that  were  par- 
"  ticularly  fworn  to,  by  the  Witnefles  before  the 
*f  grand  Jury  ;     that  fo  every  rational,  fober  and 
"  unprejudiced  Perfon   may  fee  clearly,  on  what 
<f  Grounds  the  Jurors  (who  were  23  in  Number, 
<c  and  only  6  of  BOSTON)  proceeded  in  this  Af4 
<f  fair  :  Wherein  21  of  them  were  fully  agreed  J 
-*c  and  of  the  two  .that  diffented,  one  was  an  ig-: 
*<  norant  Exhorter,  and  the  other  profefl  himfelf; 
"  of  the  People  called  Quakers,  and  therefore  could 
"  not  in  Confci^nce  vote  in  fuch  an  Affair,  but 
<c  faid  the  other  Jurors  were  entirely  right  in  what 
4*  they  did. 

It  ought  alfo  to  be  obferved,  that  it  was  fo-a 
<c  lemnly  given  in  Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury,  toi 
"  enquire  ftriclly  into  Diforders  of  an  ccckfiafti^ 
*<  cal  Nature,  and  that  upon  giving  in  this  Pre-l 
"•  fentment  they  receiv'd  the  Thanks  of  the  Ccwfj 
fi  for  that  particular  Service. 

"  There  is  one  Thing  more  to  be  taken  Notice 
"  of  in  this  Introduction,  and  that  is,  a  groundlefs 

and 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         163. 

"  and  malicious  Calumny,  indufltioufly  fpread  a- 
"  broad  by  Mr.  DAVENPORT'S  Adherents,  —  that 
"  the  Grand  Jurors  of  BOSTON  were  chofe  on  Pur- 
"  pofe  to  bring  on  this  Prof  edit  ion  ;  than  which 
te  nothing  is,  or  can  be  more  untrue  ;  for  at  the 
ff  Time  of  the  Choice,  Mr.  DAVENPORT  was 
"  preaching  at  IPSWICH,  and  it  was  given  out  by 
"  his  Followers,  that  he  would  not  return  any 
<(  more  to  BOSTON. 

The  PRESENTMENT. 

SUFFOLK  ff.  &c.  omitting  the  Form-—  fr  The 
Jurors  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  KING— upon 
f  Oath  prefent— -  That  one  JAMES  DAVENPORT  of 
SOUTHOLD,  in  the  County  of  SUFFOLK  on  LONG- 
ISLAND,  in  the  Government  of  NEW-YORK^ 
Clerk,  now  Refident  in  BOSTON,  under  the  Pre 
tence  of  praying,  preaching  and  exhorting^  at  di- 
verfe  Places  in  the  Towns  of  BOSTON  and  DOR 
CHESTER,  both  in  the  County  of  SUFFOLK,  firfl 
before  mentioned,  and  at  diverfe  Times  in  the 
Months  of  July  lafl,  and  Augufl  current,  parti 
cularly  on,  or  about,  the  20  Day  of  July  lafl* 
and  the  ifl  and  i6th  Days  of  Augufl  current, 
did,  at  BOSTON  afbrefaid,  in  the  Hearing  of 
great  Numbers  of  the  Subjects  of  our  Lord  the 
KING,  malicioufly  publim,  and  with  a  loud 
Voice  utter  and  declare  many  Jlanderous  and 
reviling  Speeches,  againfl  the  godly  and  faithful 
Minirters  of  the  Gofpel  in  this  Province^but  more 
particularly  againfl  the  Miniflers  of  the  Gofpel 
in  the  Town  of  BOSTON  aforefaid,  then  and  there 
malicioufly  publishing  and  declaring  of,  and  con 
cerning  them,  the  faid  Miniflers,  thefe  falfe  and 
fcandalous  Words,  and  many  others  to  the  fame 
M  2  "  Effect 


ff 


Things  tf  <*  bad  PART    IJ 

ff  Effect  and  Purpofe,  viz.    "  That  the  great  eft  \ 
"  Part  of  the  faid  Minifters  (meaning  the  Mini- 
"  fters  of  the  Gofpel  in  this  Province,  and  more 
"  particularly  of  the  Town  of  BOSTON  aforefaid  ) 
cc  were  carnal  and  unconverted  Men  ;      that  they 
ff  (meaning  the  faid  Minifters)  knew  nothing  of\ 
«  JESUS  CHRIST,   and  that   they  were  leading\ 
<f  their  People  blindfold  down  to  Hell,  and  that  they 
*'  were  deft  roy  ing  and  murdering  of  Souls  by  Thou* 
"  fands  ;    the  faid  JAMES  DAVENPORT,  at  the  fame 
"  Time,  directing  and  advijing  their  (  the  faid  Mi- 
fc  nifters  )  Hearers  to  withdraw  from  them  the  faid 
"  Minifters,  and  not  to  hear  them  preach,    nor  fre- 
"  quent  the  Affemblm  of  publick  Wor/bip,  where  they, 
"  the  faid  Minifters,  taught  and  preach'  d,  for  that 
"  the  following  and  hearing  of  them  the  faid  Mini' 
"  fters,  was  as  definitive  to  the  Souls  of  thofe  who 
"  heard  them,  as  f  wallowing  Rats-  Bane   or  Poifoni 
*'  was  to  their  Bodies  ;     -praying  the  LORD  to  pull 
"  them,  the  faid  Minifters,  down,  and  put  others  im 
"  their  Places  :"     By  Means  whereof,  great  Num-i 
<c  bers  of  People  have  withdrawn  themlelves  from? 
"  the  publick  Worftnp  of  GOD,  and  the  JJfembliem 
tc  as  by  Law  required,  the  publick  Peace  of  oura 
<c  Lord  the  KING  hath,  been  much  difturb'd,  thm 
<c  LORD'S-DAY  greatly  prophan'd,  the  lawful  Auj 
cc  thority  had   in  great  Contempt,   all  which   is 
^  contrary  to  the  Laws,  as   alfo  to  the    Peace 
*<  Crown,  and  Dignity  of  our  faid  Lord 


Jos.  GREEN.     Foreman!' 


"  The  faid  JAMES  DAVENPORT,  being  arraigned 
cc  upon  the  laid  Prefenimefit,  pleaded  not  guilty,- 
"  and  for  Trial  put  himfelf  on  the  Country  ;  a 
c<  Jury  being  iworn  to  try  the  IfTue,  Mr.  BENJA-. 
c-  MIN  LANG  DON,  Foreman,  and  Fellows,  on  Oath, 


PRAT    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        165 

lf  fay,  That  the  faid  JAMES  DAVENPORT  uttered  the 
«  Words  laid  in  the  Presentment,  except  thofe 
"  Words  "  that  they  (viz.  the  Minifters)  knew 
((  nothing  of  JESUS  CHRIST  :"  and  that  at  the 
"  Time  when  he  uttered  thefe  Words  he  was  non 
u  compos  mentis,  and  therefore  that  the  faid  J. 
«  D— -T  is  not  guilty. 

Atteft.     SAMUJEL  TYLEY  Clerk. 

The  WitnelTes  for  the  KING  declared  on  Oath 
if  before  the  Grand  Jury  (Auguffc  18.)  as  follows, 

cc  viz. 

• 

"  Mr.  H.  G.  fays,  This  Day  three  Weeks  he 
wa.s  on  the  Common^  and  heard  a  Woman  cry 
ing  out  very  much,  and  feemed  to  be  in  Pain, 
tnd  he  went  to  help  her  ;  and  Mr.  J.  D— T 
charged  all  Men  not  to  touch  her,  as  they 
<(  would  anfwer  it  at  the  great  Day  of  Judg- 

"  ment  :     And  he  then  heard   the  faid  D T 

"  cry  out  againft  the  unconverted  Minifters  of  the 
"  Town  of  BOSTON."  And  another  Time  he  heard 
"  faid  D — T  in  Prayer  fay,  "  The  great  eft  Part 
'•  of  the  Minifters  of  the  Town  of  BOSTON  were  un- 
"  converted  ;"  and  he  heard  faid  D — T  on  the 
"  30th  of  July  fay,  cc  The  great  eft  Part  of  the 
"  Minifters  of  BOSTON  were  unconverted,  and  were 
"  leading  their  People  to  HdL 

Mr.  J.  S.  fay?,  He  heard  Mr.  D T  "  fray 

"  for  the  unconverted  Minifters  of  the  Town  of  Bos- 
"  TON,'J  and  fay,  "  Good  LORD,  thoit  knoweji 
"  the  greatcft  Part  of  them  are  unconverted." 

Dr.E.  E.fays,  he  heard  Mr.D— T  fay, "  the  great- 

*'  eft  Part  of  the  Minifters  of  the  Town  of  BOSTON 

"  were  unconverted,  and  were  leading  their  People  blind- 

M  3  fold 


166  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 


" 


fold  down  to  Hell."  It  was  in  July :  And  he  faid, 
"  'The  great  eft  Part  of the  Minifters  thro1  the  Province] 
*f  were  unconverted"  He  heard  him  more  than! 
once  on  the  Common,  and  he  faid,  f(  Good  LORD,  1 
"  convert  thcfe  unconverted  Minifters^  or  remove  them  \ 
^  and  put  others  in  their  Office" 

Mr.  P.  O,  fays,  he  heard  Mr.  J.  D— T  fay, 
(on  Monday  lafl)  "  That  moft  of  the  Clergy  of  the\ 
"  Town  of  BOSTON  were  unconverted,    and  that   if\ 
•'  there  were  a  Bowl  of  Poifon  which  would  deftroy 
"  their  Bodies,  he  would  advife  any  of  his  dearejl 
"  Friends  to  drink  it,  asfoon  as  to  go  and  hear  then 
"  or  either  of  them,"     This  was  an  STRAUGHHAN'S 
Houfe. 

Mr.  E.  W.  fays,  he  heard  Mr.  J.  D---T  fa; 
on  Monday  lafl,  at  Mr.  STRAUGHHAN'S  Houfe,  " 
"  am  furc  the  great  eft  Part  of  the  Minifters  of  the 
"  great  Town  of  BOSTON  are  unconverted  ;"  and 
faid,  "  Dear  Souls,  if  there  were  a  Bowl  of  Poifon 
on  that  Table,  I  would  as  foon  advije  you  to  drink 
it  off,  which  would  deftroy  your  Bodies,  as  to  hear 
them  which  would  deftroy  your  Souls"  And  hei 
heard  faid  D — T  fay,  "  The  unconverted  Minifters  \ 
"  were  leading  People  blindfold  to  Hell  by  Thousands 
*  and  Millions" 

Mr.  H.  V,  fays,  he  heard  Mr,  D— T  fay,  (in 
July  lafl,  on  COPP'S  Hill)  in  his  Addrefs  to  the 
Almighty,  "Good  LORD,  (or  oh  LORD}  I  will  not 

*c  mince  the  Matter  any  longer  with  thee*  for  thou  know,^ 
"  eft  that  I  know,  that  the  moft  of  the  Minifters  of  the 
"  Town  of  BOSTON  and  the  -COUNTRY  are  unconver- 
*'  ted,  and  arc  leading  their  People  blindfold  to  Hell." 
And  at  DORCHESTER,  he  heard  faid  D-— T  advife 

the 


4 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         167 

the  People  there  "  not  to  go  to  hear,  their  Minifter, 
"  for  he  was  an  unconverted 


Mr,  N.  T.  fays,  he  heard  Mr.  D—  -T,  at  Mr. 
WELCH'S,  fay,  in  his  Prayer,  "  LORD,  thou  know- 
"  eft  the  mofl  of  the  Minifters  of  the  Town  of  Bos- 
"  TON  are  unconverted.''  In  a  Sermon  on  the  Com- 
"  mon,  he  faid,  "  Good  Lord,  thou  knoweft,  the  mofl 
"  of  them  are  unconverted  ;  pull  them  down,  turn 
"  them  out,  and  put  others  in  their  Places. 

Mr.  R.  A.  fays,  he  heard  Mr.   J.  D-—  T  (at 

Mr.  WARDELL'S,  Auguft  i.)  fay  in  his  Prayer, 
ff  LORD  GOD,  thou  kwweft,  that  the  greateft  Part 
<c  of  the  Minifters  of  this  great  Town  are  in  an  un- 
"  converted  State,  and  leading  poor  Souls  on  to  De- 
j  flruction  ;  and  therefore  LORD,  ive  pray  thee  to* 
"  turn  them  out  of  the  Miniftry.  And  you,  dear 
"  Children  of  GOD,  that  are  here  prefent,  I  'would 
"  advife  you  never  to  go  near  them  to  hear  them,  for 
(f  their  Preaching  to  your  Souls  is  as  Poifonous  to  them, 
<tf  as  Rats  -Bane  is  to  your  Bodies*"  This  was 
"  LORD'S-DAY  Afternoon,  about  an  100  prefent 
<c  to  hear  him  in  the  Houfe  and  Sbopy  in  Service- 
u  Time. 

Mr.  R.  H.  fays,  he  heard  Mr.  J.  DAVENPORT 
fay,  at  Mr.  WARDELL'S  Houfe,  in  BOSTON,  on  the 
Sabbath-Day  in  the  Forenoon,  in  July  lait,  "  He 
(f  hlejfed  GOD}J>e  had  f@  many  come  out  from  among 
"  the  unconverted  Mmiflers."  Near  an  Hundred 
"  prefent. 

And  one  of  the  Grand  Jury  declared  to  his  FeJ- 
lows,  that  he  heard  Mr.  JAMES  DAVENPORT  fay 
loft  Monday,  "  That  the  Minifters  of  the  Toivn  of 
^  BOSTON  knew,  nothing  of  JESUS  CHRIST  ;  and 

M  4  iba* 


1(58  Things  of  a  bad  PART'  I. 

"  that  they  ivereferving  the  Inter  eft  of  Satan"    But 
this  wan'c  fworn  to  in  Court.'* 

I  may  add,  that  fince  the  Date  of  the  above 
Preferment,  and  the  Oaths  relative  to  it,  Mr. 
DAVENPORT  has  often  fpoken  of  ALL  the  Miniflers 
in  Town,  as  in  a  Combination  againfl  the  LORD 
and  his  Anointed,  meaning,  I  fuppofe,  himfelf ;  And 
as  though  this  wan't  enough,  he  has,  in  his  public* 
Prayers  and  Preachments,  mentioned  the  moft,  if 
not  all  of  them  by  Name,  as  unconverted  Men,  and 
folemniy  warned  People  to  feparate  from  them, 
and  not  dare  to  attend  on  their  Miniftry  :  And 
this  he  did,  after  having  the  Inanity  to  go.  to  them 
all,  one  by  one,  to  enquire  into  their  fpiritual 
State :  Though  I  am  glad,  I  am  able  to  declare, 
that  they  all,  except  two  or  three,  were  fo  far 
from  entring  into  Converfation  with  him  upon 
that  Head,  that  they  chaftis'd  his  Infolence,  and  fe- 
verely  teftified  againft  fuch  an  unheard  of  Con- 
duel:.  'Tis  a  Rule  with  this  Gentleman,  if  a  Man 
won't  give  him  an  Account  of  his  Chrifiian  Expe 
riences.,  to  look  upon  that  alone  as  a  dark  Sign,  if 
not  a  fare  Evidence,  of  his  being  in  a  carnal  State. 
No  Wonder  then  the  Minifters  in  Town  were 
condemned  by  him, 

But  enough  has  been  faid,  and  fome,  perhaps, 
may  think,  a  great  Deal  too  much,  upon  the  Un~ 
charitablenefs  of  fome  of  the  chief  Ivftruments  of 
the  religious  Stir  there  has  been  in  the  Land. 

I  go  on  to  obferve,  that  this  fame  Spirit  has 
been  generally  propagated  all  over  the  Country,  a- 
mong  the  common  People  ;  infomuch,  that  I  mall 
not  exceed  the  literal  Truth,  when  I  fay,  that 
there  »never  was  a  Time,  fmce  the  Settlement  of 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         169 

NEW-ENGLAND,  wherein  there  was  fo  much  bitter 
and  rafb  Judging  ;  Parents  condemning  their 
Children,  and  Children  their  Parents  f,-  Husbands 
their  Wives,  and  Wives  their  Husbands  ,•  Maf- 
ters  their  Servants,  and  Servants  their  Mailers  ; 

Minifters 


f  I  fndl,  as  an  Illuftration  of  this  Cenforioufnefs^  infert 
here  fome  Part  of  a  Letter,  Wrote  to  me  by  a  Friend, 
upon  his  own  Knowledge.  Sa)s  he,  "  'Tis  remar- 
"  "table*  thofe,  who  were  faid  to  be  ft  ruck  with 
"  Convi&ion,  immediately  feem'd  to  be  filiM  with 
*'  a  cenfuring  and  judging  Spirit  againft  almoft  all  o- 
"  thers  ;  Children  againit  their  Parents,  Servants  a- 
"  gainft  their  Matters  ;  declaring  them  to  be  in  2n 

"   unconverted  State. One  In  ft  a  net  among  many 

"  others,  I  fhall  mention.    There  was  a  young  Wo- 

*c  man  about  15  Yeais  of  Age,  who  fell  under   this 

*'  Conviction,  and    for  about    four    Hours  together 

"  fte,in  this  Manner,exhorted.      At  firft,  fhe  began 

*c  with  her  Father,  and  told  him,  fhe  could  fee  the 

ct   Image  of  the  Devil  then  in  his  Face,  and  that  he 

"   washing  Poft-haile  down  to  Hell  ;   and  that  all 

"   the  Prayers  he  had  ever  made  in  his  Family  weie 

'  nothing  but  Abomination  in  the  Ears  of  the  Al- 

4  mighty,  and  that  all  the  Counfels  he  had  ever  gi- 

"  ven  her,  had  no  better  aTendency  than  to  inftrucl: 

*'  her,how  (lie  fhould  pleafe  the  Devil ;  and  that  both 

*'  he,  and  hfs  Wife,  were  no  better  than  the  Devil. 

44   Many  fuch  Inftances  there  were  of  Children  con- 

*'  demning   their  Parents.     And  many  old  Perfons 

44  alfo,  though,  as  well  as  the    Parents  above,   Per- 

**   foiis  of  unblemifh'd   Characters,  a    good  Profefli- 

*  on,  fober,  and  Lovers  of  Religion,  were  called,  and 

'  by  Children  too,  old  Hypocrites,  Heirs  of  eternal 

'  Damnation,  going  the  Road  that  would  lead  them 

•  **  to  Hell,  &c."     I  have  other  Letters  by  me   from 

whence  I  could    tranfcribe   like  Account^  were  it 

needful. 


j 70  Thing  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

Minifters  their  People,  and  People  their  Minifters. 
Cenforioufnefsy  to  a  high  Degree,  is  indeed  the  con- 
jlant  Appendage  of  this  religious  Commotion.  Where- 
ever  it  takes  Place,  the  Subjeftj  of  it,  too  gene 
rally,  are  uncharitable  to  Neighbours,  to  Brethren  of 
the  fame  Community,  to  Relatives,  to  Minijlers  in 
an  efpecial  Manner  ;  yea,  to  all  the  World  that 
are  not  in  their  Way  of  thinking  and  fpeaking:  And 
what  may  be  worth  a  Note,  the  Places  where  this 
Appearance  has  been  mofl  remarkable,  have  common 
ly  been  mofl  filled  with  Uncharitablenefs,  in  all  the 
Expreffions  of  it. 

It  would  take  up  too  much  Room  to  relate  the 
bard  Speeches,  the  monjlrous  Sayings  which  have 
been  uttered  among  us  ;  and  this,  not  in  a  Jin* 
gle  Place  only,  but  in  mofl  Towns  throughout  the 
Provinces,  where  there  has  been  any  Thing  con- 
iiderable  of  this  Commotion  :  Nay,  to  fuch  an  a- 
bominable  Height  have  fome  fuffered  their  Uncbari- 
tablenefs  to  rife,  that  they  have  declared,  they 
would  as  foon  have  Communion  with  the  Devil,  as 
with  many,  both  Mimjlers  and  People,  againft  whom 
they  have  yet  nothing  to  fay,  but  that  they  don't 
judge  as  they  do  about  the  prefent  Times.  Some 
of  the  moft  valuable  Minifters  in  the  Country, 
meerly  on  this  Account,  have  been  call'd  all  the 
bad  Names  one  can  eafily  think  of  :  Nor  have 
even  thofe  efcaped,  who,  for  20,  30,  40  Years, 
have  fo  caufed  their  Light  to  mine  before  others, 
as  that  they  have  feen  their  good  Works,  and 
might  have  learn't  from  their  good  Example  to 
glorify  our  Father  in  Heaven. 

And  as  the  Effeft  of  this  Spirit,  there  is  a  very 
great  Appearance  of  Contention  and  Strife,  which,  if 
GOD  don't  mercifully  interpofe,  will  endanger  a 

Breach 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         171 

Breach  in  all  the  Churches  in  the  Land  :  Nay, 
feparate  Meetings  are  already  begun  in  one  Place 
and  another.  Two  have  been  fee  up  in  this  Town 
of  BOSTON  ;  another,  at  NEWBURY  ;  another, 
at  NEW-LONDON  ;  another,  at  NEW-HAVEN  $ 
another  ^at  MILFORD  ;  and  others  flill  in  fome  other 
Places  ';  And  there  are  a  Number  in  CHARLES- 
TOWN,  in  DORCHESTER,  in  MILTON,  and  elfewhere, 
who  han't  Charity  for  their  own  Pajtors  fo  much 
as  to  hear  them  preach  ;  though  they  have  ob 
tain 'd  a  univerfal  good  Character,  not  only  for  their 
minifterial  Gifts,  but  for  being  Examples  to  their 
Flocks,  in  Word,  in  Conversation,  in  Charity,  in  Spirit, 
in  Faith,  in  Purity  :  Nay,  I  verily  believe,  there 
is  not  so  MUCH  AS  ONE  MINISTER  IN  THE  WHOLE 
LAND,  but  the  Minds  of  many  are  fo  prejudiced 
againft  them,  on  one  Account,  or  another,  as  that 
their  Power  to  do  good  is  hereby  greatly  Jeffened. 

The  Things  I  have  here  mentioned  are  no  Se~ 
crets  :  They  are  notorious,  and  mud  be  evident 
to  all  who  have  Eyes  to  fee,  and  Ears  to  hear  : 
And  fo  far  will  the  more  zealous  among  our  new 
Converts  be  from  difowning  them,  that  they  will  ra 
ther  glory  in  having  it  faid,  that  they  have  come  out 
from  unconverted  Minijlers  and  Churches  ;  imagin 
ing,  they  have  herein  complied  with  the  Com 
mand  of  GOD,  which  fays,  Come  out  from  among 
them,  and  he  ye  feparate  ;  and  ye  fhall  be  my  People, 
and  I  will  he  your  GOD. 

Some  may,  if  they  pleafe,  call  this  Spirit  of 
Cenforioufhefs,  operating  in  Clamour,  and  Strife,  and 
Schifm,  an  Accidental  Effect  only  of  the  Revival  of 
a  good  Work  ,;  but  from  what  has  been  faid,  de- 
fcriptive.  of  the  Temper  and  Conduct  of  the  mam 

Ivftruments 


172  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

Injlruments  in  beginning,and  carrying  on  this  PFork, 
it  appears  with  a  Meridian  Luftre,  that  it  is  no  o- 
ther  than  their  Spirit,  wherein  it  was  bad,  propa 
gated  to  others.  And  fuch  Effetts  may  always  be 
expefted  from  fuch  Caufcs  ;  They  are  no  other 
than  their  natural  and  genuine  Produce  :  And 
'tis,  to  me,  one  of  the  flrangeft  Things,  that  any 
fhould  be  at  a  Lo(s  to  determine  otherwife. 

But  let  thefe  Effects  be  produced  how  they 
will,  they  are  certainly  very  pernicious  ones  ; 
and  mud  be  accounted  fo  by  all,  who  make  an 
Eilimate  of  them  from  the  Scripture.  Our  SA 
VIOUR  is  not  more  exprefs  in  cautioning  againfh. 
any ,  Vice  whatever,  than  this  of  uncharitable  Judg 
ing.  JUDGE  NOT,  is  his  peremptory  Prohibiti 
on  ;f  and  weighty  is  the  Argument  with  which 
he  backs  it  ;  viz,  That  if  we  judge,  we  /hall  be 
judged.  Men  will  judge  us,  who  are  feldom  want 
ing  in  this  Kind  of  Retribution,  but  difpos'd 
rather  to  give  full  Meafure,  prefled  down  and 
running  over.  But  what  is  much  worfe,  GOD 
will  judge  us.  And  don't  we  need  his  Pity  and 
Mercy  ?  Shan't  we  otherwife  be  cafh  in  the 
Judgment  ?  And  can  we  expecl  any  other,  while 
we  are  hard  and  fevere  in  our  Treatment  of  our 
Brother,  and  ready,  without  due  Allowances,  to 
condemn  him  ?  And  very  folemn  is  that  Chal 
lenge  ^  the  Apoftk  makes  to  all  who  are  given  to 
raft  Cenfure,  *  Who  art  thou  that  judgeft  another 
Mans  Servant  ?  Our  Brother,  we  judge,  is  GOD'S 
Servant  j  not  ours.  While  therefore  we  call 
him  to  the  Bar  of  our  Judgment,  we  invade  GOD'S 
Prerogative,  exercife  an  unjuft  Jurifdiftion.  over 


f  Mat,  7.  j.     *  Rom.  14.  4. 

his 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency ,         173 

his  Servant  ;  a  Power  we  have  no  Right,  nor 
Bufmefs  to  ufe.  Who  art  thou  that  judgeft  another 
Mans  Servant  ?  What  Pretence  haft  thou  to  do 
thus  ?  Who  made  thee  a  Judge  ?  Who  gave 
thee  this  Power  over  another  Man's  Servant  ? 
He  Jlandeth  or  falleth  to  his.  own  Mafter.  He  only 
can  acquit  or  condemn  him  ;  the  Right  of  thus 
judging  is  his,  and  belongeth  not  to  another. 
Thou  art  therefore  inexcusable,  0  Man  whoever 
thou  arty  that  judgeft  thy  Neighbour  ;  for  herein 
thou  takeft  that  upon  thee,  which  thou  haft  no 
Claim  to  ,•  herein  thou  fetteft  thy  felf  up, 
as  it  were,  in  the  Room  of  the  Almighty,  and 
art  guilty  of  the  Arrogance  of  afting  as  tho'  thou 
waft  in  his  Stead' 

I  know,  in  fome  Cafes,  it  may  admit  of  Dif~ 
pute,  what  is  uncharitable  Judging :  And  fo  it  may, 
what  is  Intemperance,  or  Injuftice,  or  Opprejfion,  and 
the  like.  But  this  does  not  argue,  but  that  in  o- 
ther  InftanceSj,  the  Intemperance  or  Injuftice  may 
be  fo  evident,  as  to  leave  no  Room  for  Debate 
upon  the  Matter.  And  this  is  the  Cafe  with  Re- 
fpe6l  to  the  Judging  that  now  prevails.  If  there 
is  any  fuch  Vice,  it  now  takes  Place  :  Nor  can 
it  eafily  be  imagin'd,  wherein  Men  could  be  more 
grofly  guilty  of  it.  This  Prohibition  of  our  SAVIOUR 
was  never,  I  believe,  more  outragioufly  trampled 
upon,  than  it  now  commonly  is  by  Multitudes  of 
thofe,  who  call  themfelves  good  Chriftians.  In 
Refpe6l  of  many,  'tis  as  plain,  they  live  in  the 
Breach  of  this  Law  of  GOD,  as  that  any  do  in  the 
Breach  of  the  Law  of  Temperance  or  Right eoufnefs. 
And  it  ought  to  be  confidered  with  all  Seriouf- 
nefs,  that  uncharitable,  cenforious  Judging  is  a  Sin 
as  well  as  Intemperance  or  Injujlice  ;  and,  per 
haps,  as  bad  a  Shi,  if  not  a  worfe  :  And  it  ought 

not 


174  Things  of  a  bad  PART  I. 

not  therefore  to  be  excufed.  The  fame  Law-giver 
and  Judge  who  has  faid,  thou  (halt  not  fteal,  or 
get  drunk,  has  alfo  faid,  thou  {halt  not  judge  ;  andx 
the  Law  is  guarded  with  the  like  Sanction  of  Death 
and  Hell.  'Tis'  therefore  dangerous  to  Men's 
Souls,  to  fpeak  of  this  mifcheivous  Vice  as  a  humane 
Frailty  only,  a  meer  Imprudence,  that  will  well  enough 
confift  with  a  Work  of  GOD  in  their  Hearts.  JTis 
true,  good  Men  may  be  betrayed  into  this  Sin ;  and 
fo  they  may  into  Drunkennefs,  or  Injujtice  ;  but  if 
they  allow  themfelves  in  it,  if  they  live  in  the 
habitual  Pra6tice  of  it,  it  will  as  certainly  damn 
them  as  if  they  hVd  in  the  Practice  of  any  other 
Sin.  And  they  ought  to  be  told  the  plain  Truth. 
1  am  fure,  the  great  St.  PAUL  plainly  tells  the 
Corinthians j  when  there  appear'd  the  Want  of  Cha* 
rity  among  them,  that  nothing  elfe,  while  they 
were  deilitute  of  this,  would  avail  to  their  Sal 
tation.  He  does  not  tax  them  with  Imprudence 
cnly,  but  folemnly  allures  them,  in  the  Name  of 
the  great  GOD  of  Heaven,  that  all  their  other 
Attainments  were  nothing,  that  no  Work  of  GOD 
could  be  wrought  in  their  Hearts,  if  they  were 
without  Charity  ;  that  Charity,  of  which  he  has 
given  a  large  and  beautiful  Defcription,  in  the 
J3th  Chapter  of  his  firft  Epiftle  to  them.  And  I 
leave  it  with  the  Conscience  of  every  Man  acquaint 
ed  with  the  State  of  Things  at  this  Day,  whether 
this  Charity,  die  genuine  Effects  of  which,  the  Apo- 
file  has  here  enumerated,  is  not  as  notoriously  want* 
ing  among  us,  as  it  can  be  fuppos'd  to  have  been 
among  the  Corinthians. 

And  is  there  any  one  Thing,  in  all  the  Reve 
lations  of  GOD,  that  is  more  particularly  and  fo* 
lemnly  cautioned  againft,  than  this  Uncharitablenefs, 
difcovering  it  fell  in  Strife,  Sedition  and  Schifm  ? 

Arc 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         175 

Are  not  thefe  Effe£ls  of  an  uncharitable  Spirit  reck 
on 'd  up  among  the  Fruits  of  the  Flejh  f  ?  And 
are  not  fuch  as  do  thefe  Things  exprefly,  and  as 
it  were  by  Name,  excluded  the  Kingdom  of  GOD*? 
Is  it  not  peremptorily  declar'd,  that  if  we  have 
bitter  Envying  and  Strife,  this  Wifilwn  defcendeth  not 
from  above  ;  but  is  earthly,  fenfual,  deviliflo^l  How 
earned,  and  frequently  repeated  are  the  Calls  in 
Scripture,  To  put  away  all  Bitternefe,  and  Wrath, 
and  Clamour,  and  Evil-speaking  f  !  How  importu 
nately  are  Chriflians  befought  to  be  kind  one  to  an- 
other,  forgiving  one  another  ;  to  live  in  Love,  with 
all  Lowlinefs  and  Meeknefs,  with  Long-fuffering  and 
Forbearance  ;  endeavouring  to  keep  the  Unity  of  the 
Spirit  in  the  Bond  of  Peace  f  f  !  And  are  not  all 
the  Arguments  made  Ufe  of  to  enfprce  thefe  In- 
treaties,  that  can  be  fetch'd  either  from  Earth,  or 
Heaven,  or  Hell  ? 

And  what  is  worthy  of  particular  Notice,  this 
Law  of  Charity  is  the  Law  of  Christianity  by  Way 
of  Eminence.  This  is  MY  COMMANDMENT  (fays  our 
SAVIOUR  )  *  that  ye  love  one  another,  as  I  have  love  A 
you.  And  again  f,  A  NEW  COMMANDMENT  give  I 
unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another  :  As  I  have  loved 
you,  that  ye  aJfo  love  one  another.  And  'tis  by  this, 
in  a  diftinguijbing  Manner,  that  Men  are  to  be 
known  to  be  Chriflians.  Says  our  SAVIOUR  g,  By  this 
fhall  all  Men  know  that  ye  are  my  Difeiples,  if  ye 
have  Love  one  to  another.  Nay,  if  Men  do  net  love 
one  another,  neither  do  they  love  GOD.  The  Apo- 
.  file  is  exprefs  in  this.  \If  a  Man  fay,  I  love  GOD, 

f  Gal.  5. 19, 20.     *  V.  21.     g  James  3.  j/r  [^ 
*  EPh-  4-  31-     tt  Eph.A.2,  3.  5.32.  i 

15- 12.    f  Chapt.  13.  34.     g  John  -  3 
John  4. 20. 


17<?  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I, 

and  hateth  his  Brother,  he  is  a  Liar  :  For  he  that  lov- 
eth  not  his  Brother,  whom  he  hath  fern,  how  can  he 
love  GOD  whom  he  hath  not  feen  ?  Yea,  ff  In  this 
are  the  Children  of  GOD  manifejl;  and  the  Children 
of  the  Devil :  flPhofoever  doth  not  Right  coiifnefs  is 
not  of  GOD  ',  neither  he  that  loveth  not  his  Brother. 

And  fliall  it  be  thought,  after  all  this,  a  Mat 
ter  of  flight  Confideration,  whether  Men,  profef- 
fing  ihemfelves  Chriftians,  dwell  together  in  Love 
and  Peace  ?  And  if  they  are  hard  and  cruel  in 
their  Cenfures  and  Reproaches  of  one  another, 
and  fall  into  Strife,  and  carry  it  to  fuch  a  Height 
that  they  can't  have  Communion  with  one  ano 
ther,  fliall  this  be  made  fo  little  of,  that  they  may 
notwithstanding  be  remarkably  good  Chriftians  ? 

There  may,  'tis  true,  be  an  Appearance  of  Re 
ligion,  even  in  the  groffeft  Uncharitablenefs  ;  and 
Men  may  pretend  a  Zeal  for  GOZ),  while  they 
are  trampling  upon  the  Chriftian  Law  of  Love  : 
But  their  Zeal,  in  this  Cafe,  is  not  a  Fire  kindled 
at  GOD's  Altar  ;  nor  will  it  atone  for  their  Guilt. 
If  they  are  cenforious  and  uncharitable,  and  habitu 
ally  fo,  be  their  Pretences  what  they  will,  and  their 
Profefftons  ever  fo  pompous  and  glorious,  they  are 
nothing  in  Point  of  that  Chridianity,  which  will 
ferve  them  at  the  great  and  laft  Day. 

I  cannot  better  clofe  this  Head  than  in  thofe 
obfervable  Words  of  the  Apoftle  PAUL,*  Now  I 
lefeech  you,  Brethren,  mark  them  which  caufe  Divi- 
fions  and  Offences,  contrary  to  the  Doftrine  which  ye 
have  learned  ;  and  avoid  them.  -For  they  that  are 
fuch,  ferve  not  our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  ;  but 

>ft  i   John  3,   10.     *  ^^772.  16.  17,  18.   . 

their 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         177 

their  own  Belly  :     And   by  good  Word's,   and  fair 
Speeches,  deceive  the  Hearts  of  the  Simple  :    Which 
are  gloifed  upon,  by  the  Continuators  of  Mr,  HEN 
RY'S  Expofitions,  in  a  Manner  well  worth  our  No 
tice  in   thefe  Times.     "  Thofe,  fay  they,  who 
•*'  introduce  and  propagate  dividing  and  offending 
"  Notions,    which  are  mod   erroneous,  or  juftly 
"  fufpe&ed  ;     who,  out  of  Pride,  Ambition,  Af- 
"  fe&ation  of  Novelty,  or  the  like,  caufelefly  fe- 
"  parate  from  their  Brethren,   and  by   perverfe 
(f  Difputes,  Cenfures  and  evil  Surmifings,  alienate 
*c  the  Affeftions  of  Chriftians  from  one  another  ; 
< f  — thefe  caufe  Divijions  and  Offences,  contrary  to, 
"  or  different  from,  the  Doftrines  which  they  have 
"  learn' d.     Now,  Mark  thofe  that  thus  caufe  Dim- 
(c  Jions  ;     obferve  them,  the  Method  they  take, 
f(  the  End  they  drive  at.     There  is  Need  of  a 
,"  piercing,  watchful  Eye  to  difcern  the  Danger 
"  we  are  in'  from  fuch  People   :     For  commonly 
tf  the  Pretences  are  plaiifible,  when  the  Projects 
a  are  very  pernicious.     Do  not  look  only  at  the 
<f  Divijions   and    Offences    ;      but  run   up  thefe 
"  Streams  to  the  Fountain,  and  mark  thofe  that 
"  caufe  them  ;    and  efpecially  that,  in  them  which 
ff  doth  caufe  thefe  Diviflons  and  Offences  ;  thofe 
"  Lulls  on  each  Side,  from  whence  come  thefe 
"  Wars  and  Fightings.   And  avoid  them.    Shun  all 
4C  iinneceifary  Communion,   and    Communication 
"  with  them,  left  you  be  leavened  and  infected  by 
fc  them.  Do  not  ftrike  in  with  any  dividing  Intcr- 
<c  efts,  nor  embrace  any  of  thofe  Principles  of 
f  <  Pra6lices,  which  are  deftruftive  to  ChriftianLove 
"  and  Charity,  or  to  the  Truth  which  is  aceord- 
<c  ing  to  Godlinefs.--— Such  ferve  not  our  LORD 
:"  JESUS  CHRIST.       They  do  not  aim  at  his 
"  Glory,  promote  his  Intereft,  or  do  his  Will, 
*<  what  ever  they  pretend.     But  they  force  their 

N 


178  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

€f  own  Belly,    i.  e.  Their  carnal,  fenfual,  fecular  | 
"  Incerefts.     'Tis  fome  bafe  Luft  or  other  they 
*'  are  pleafing  ;   Pride,  Ambition,  Coveteoufnefs, 
"  Lafcivioufnefs:  Thefeare  the  Defigns  they  are 
"  really  carrying  on.     And  what  is  the  Method  j 
"  they  take  to  compafs  their  Defigns?     By  good 
€C  Words  and  fair  Speeches,  they  deceive  the  Hearts 
"  of  the  Simple.       Their   Words  and  Speeches  I 
c<  have. a  Shew  of  Holinels  and  Zeal  for  GOD. 
€ f  Thus  by  good  Words  and  fair  Speeches  the  Ser- 
"  pent  beguiled  EVE.  We  have  great  Need  there-  < 
(c  fore  to  keep  our  Hearts  with  all  Diligence  j 
/<  efpecially,  when  J educing  Spirits  are  abroad." 

*. 

Another  Thing,   I  can't  but  think  of  danger 
ous   Tendency,   is,  that  Regard  to  Impulfes  and 
Imprejfions,  which  has  prevail'd  among  too  many ; 
their  Aptnefs  to  take  the  Motion  of  their  own  Minds 
for  fomething  divinely  extraordinary,  or  to  put  thojs\ 
Conjlruftions  upon  common  Occurrences,  which  there 
is  no  Ground  for  but  in  their  ^ovon  Imaginations., 
Mr.  WHITEFIELD  had  evidently  a  Turn  of  Mind  too* 
much  difpoiing  him  this  Way.     This  appears  in 
him  all  along  from  his  being  a  Lad,  according  toj 
the  Account  he  has   given   the  World  of  hini-j 
felf.      One  of  the  firft  Things  he  thought  wor-J 
thy   of  publick  Notice  is,    f  "  That  his  Mother^ 
"  was  us'd  to  fay,  even  when  he  was  an  Infant, 
"  that  ihe  expecled  more  Comfort  from  him  than 
"  any  other  of  her  Children."     And  adds  upon 
it,  "  This,  with  the  Circumftance  of  my  being 
"  BORN  IN  AN  INN,  has  often  been  of  Service  to 
"  me,  in  exciting  me  to  make  Good  my  Mother's 
"  Expectations,  and  to  follow  the  Example  of  my 
"  dear  SAVIOUR,  who  was  BORN  in  a  Manger,  be-' 

f  Account  of  his  Life,  Page  i. 

Ipnging 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         179 

«  longing  to  an  INN/'  He  obferves,  when  at 
BRISTOL,  tho'  in  an  unconverted  State  at  that  Time,* 
"  That  GOD  gave  him  great  Foretajis  of  his 
"  Love,  and  fill'd  him  with  fuch  unfpeakable  Rap- 
«  lures  in  St.  JOHN'S  Church,  that  he  was  carried 
"  out  beyond  himfelf  ;-— But  in  the  midft  of  thefe 
"  Illuminations  (he  adds)  fomething  SECRETLY  WHIS- 
"  PERED,  this  would  not  lafh"  In  the  next  Page, 
he  has  this  Remark,  "  One  Morning,  as  I  was 
46  reading  a  PLAY  to  my  Sifter,  faid  I,  /  believe 
"  GOD  intends  fome  Thing  for  me,  which  we  knew 
"  not  of.  As  I  have  been  diligent  in  Bufmefs,  I 
"  believe^  many  would  have  me  for  an  Apwen- 
!  "  tice  ;  but  every  Way  feems  to  be  barred  up, 
|  "  fo  that  GOD,  I  think,  will  provide  for  me  fome 
I  "  Way  or  other.  How  I  came  to  fay  thefe  Words, 
1  "  I  know  not.---  GOD  AFTERWARDS  SHEWED  ME 
"  THEY  CAME  FROM  HIM."  A  more  obfervable 
Note  we  have  a  little  onwards,^  "  As  I  was  go- 
"  ing  one  Night  on  an  Errand  for  my  Mother,  art 

"    UNACCOUNTABLE,    BUT     VERY    STRONG    IMPRESSION 
"   WAS  MADE  UPON  MY  HEART,  THAT  I  SHOULD  PREACH 

"  AND  PRINT  QUicKLYi----When  I  came  Home,  I 
<c  innocently  told  my  Mother  what  had  befallen 
"  me.— -But  me  (like  JOSEPH'S  Parents,  when  he 
"  told  them  his  Dream  )  turning  fhort  upon  me, 
"  cried  out,  What  docs  the  Boy  mean  ?  Prithee, 
u  hold  thy  Tongue,  or  fomething  to  that  Purpofe. 
"  SINCE  GOD  HAS  SHOWN  HER  FROM  WHOM  THESE 
"  IMPRESSIONS  CAME/'  A  ffill  more  furprifing 
(and,  as  I  think,  very  finjitl)  Account,  we  have 
in  the  2pth  Page,  in  thefe  Words,  "  One  Day 
'  perceiving  an  uncommon  Drought,  and  a  noifome 
"  Clamminefs  in  my  Mouth,  and  uflng  Things  to 
<s  allay  my  Thlrft,  but  in  vain ;  IT  WAS  SUGGESTED 

*  P.  ?.     t  P.  ii. 

N  2  TO 


i8o  Things  of  a  fad  PART    I. 

"  TOME,  that,  when  JESUS  CHRIST  CRIED  OUT, 
"  I  THIRST,  his  Sufferings  were  near  over. — Up- 
"  on  this,  I  threw  my  felf  upon  the  Bed,  CRYING 
C(  OUT,  I  THIRST,  I  THIRST.  Soon  after  I  perceiv- 
"  ed  my  Load  to  go  of?  ;  a  Spirit  of  Mourning 
"  was  taken  from  me,  and  I  knew  what  it  was 
€C  truly  to  re  joke  In  the  LORD.  At  fir  ft,  after 
"  this,  I  could  not  avoid  Jinging  Pfalms  wherever 
"  I  was  ;  but  my  Joy  gradually  became  more 
"  fettled,  and,  blefled  be  GOD,  has  abode,  and 
"  incrcafed  in  my  Soul,  faving  a  few  cafual  In- 
"  termiffions,  ever  fmce."  There  are  numerous 
other  In  fiances  of  this  Turn  of  Mind,  both  in  this 
Hiftory  of  his  Life,  and  all  Ms  Journals.  I  mall 
turn  to  only  one  or  two  more.  The  firfl  is  that, 
where,  having  made  Mention  of  BURKETT'S  and 
HENRY'S  Expojitions,  he  goes  on,*  "  Many  Months 
"  have  I  kneeled  to  fludy  and  pray  over  thefe 
"  Books,  as  the*  I  had  been  fitting  at  my  Maf- 
"  ters  Feet.  The  HOLY  SPIRIT,  from  Time  to 
"  Time,  has  let  me  into  the  Knowledge  of  divine ,: 
"  Things  ;  and  I  HAVE  BEEN  DIRECTED,  by  watch-] 
"  ing  and  reading  the  Scriptures,  in  this  Manner, 

"    EVEN  IN   THE  MINUTEST  CIRCUMSTANCES,  as  plain-1 

"  ly  as  the  JEWS,  who  confulted  the  URIM  and] 
"  THUMMIM  at  the  HIGH-PRIEST'S  BREAST.'*  The] 
other  we  have  in  the  next  Page,  "  At  my  firfl; 
'"  coming  to  GLOUCESTER,  being  us'd  to  vifit  the 
"  Pr  if  oners  at  OXFORD,  I  prayed  mofl  earneHly, 
"  that  GOD  would  open  a  Door  for  me  to  vilit 

"  the  Prifoners  here  alfo.  Quickly   after,  I 

cc  DREAM'D,  that  one  of  the  Prifoners  came  to  be  in- 
"  Jlruttedby  me.— The  DREAM  WAS  IMPRESSED  MUCH' 
"  UPON  MY  HEART. — In  the  Morning,  I  went  to 
"  the  Door  of  the  County-Coaly  I  knocked,  no 


*  p.  34. 


"  Body, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         181 

"  Body  came  to  open  it  ;  I  THOUGHT  THE  HOUR, 
"  WAS  NOT  YET  COME.  I  waited  Hill  upon  GOD 
"  in  Prayer  ;  and  in  SOME  MONTHS,  came  a  Let- 
"  ter  from  a  Friend  at  OXFORD,  deiiring  me  to 
"  go  to  one  PABWORTH,  who  had  broken  out  of 
"  OXFORD-GO#/,  and  was  letaken  at  GLOUCESTER, 
«  ~~As  foon  as  I  had  read  this  Letter,  it  was 
"  SUGGESTED  to  me  that  iny  Prayer  was  now  anf- 
"  wered.  Immediately,  I  went  to  the  Perfon,  AS- 

"  SUREDLY  GATHERING  THAT  THE  LORD  CALLED  ME 
"  THITHER/' 

I  have  not  tranfcrib'd  the  above  Paffbges  from 
Mr.  W----D  with  a  View  to  reflect  Difgrace  upon, 
him  ;  but  becaufe  I  really  believe,  the  Spirit  dif- 
covered  in  them  (as  well  as  in  an  hundred  others 
of  the  like  Import,  in  his  Writings  ;  more  efpe- 
cially,  his  Life  and  Journals}  has  been  of  great 
DifTervice  in  propagating  the  like  fanciful  Difpo- 
fition  to  others.  I  have  all  along  encouraged  a 
Hope  of  this  Gentleman  as  a  real  Chriflian  : 
And  he  has  certainly  been  zealous  and  aftive  be 
yond  moft  of  his  Brethren.  But  has  he  not,  thro' 
the  Inexperience  of  Youth,  and  an.  Intemperature  of 
Zeal,  been  betray 'd  into  fuch  Tilings  as  cannot 
but  be  condemned  ?  I  always  had,  I  confefs,  a 
bad  Opinion  of  his  Conduct  in  many  Articles  ,- 
as  judging  it  led,  in  the  natural  Tendency  of 
Things,  to  produce  Mifchief.  And,  in  particular, 
I  was  always  afraid,  left  People,  from  him,  fhould 
learn  to  give  Heed  to  Impulfes  and  ImpreJJlon^  and 
by  Degrees  come  to  Revelations,  and  other  Extra- 
ordinaries,  in  this  Kind.  His  fo  frequently  writing 
after  fuch  a  Manner,  as  to  lead  People  to  think, 
•he  imagined  he  was  under  the  immediate,  eqtraor- 
!  Unary  Guidance  of  the  IToLy  GHOST,  in  almoft 
N  q  all 


1 82  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I, 

all  that  he  faid  or  did£  never  appeared  to  me  in 
the  fame  Light  it  did  to  fome  others :  Nor  do  I 
think  his  Preaching  about  imvard  Feelings  was  fo 

fuarded  as  it  ought  to  have  been.  I  doubt  not,  the 
PIRIT  may  be  felt,  i.  e.  Chriftians  may  have  an 
inward  real  Perception  of  thofe  Things  which 
are  the •  Effects,  of  the  SPIRIT s  Influence  ;  but 
this  quite  differs  from  an  Immediate  Feeling  of  the 
SPIRIT  hlwfelf,  which,  if  I  miftake  not,  is  the 
Thing  always  meant  by  this  Gentleman  :  And 
while  he  infilled  upon  this  Kind  of  Feeling^  he  to 
tally  neglecled  giving  People  warning  of  the 
Danger  of  a  deluded,  or  over-heated  Imagination  ; 
which  I  could  not  but  wonder  at,  coniidering  how 
many,  in  all  Ages,  have  impos'd  upon  themfelves, 
thinking  they  felt  the  Divine  SPIRIT  a£ting  in 
them,  when  it  was  apparent  to  every  one  elfe, 
that  it  neither  was,  nor  could  be  any  other  than 
the  Motions  of  their  own  Fancies,  or  the  Suggcf- 
fions  of  Satan  ;  and  herefrom  my  Fears,  from 
the  firffc,  rofe  high,  as  to  the  unhappy  Influence 
of  this  Conduct  upon  many  Sorts  of  Perfons  :  Nor 
are  the  extraordinary  Pretences  to  the  Spirit  in 
Revelations )  Impreffions,  and  the  like,  which  have 
been  common  at  this  .Day,  any  Thing  beyoncj; 
what  migjit  have  been  expected. 

But  befides   this   Gentleman,   others  have  paicl; 
an  undue  Regard  to  Impulfes  and  Iwprejficins,  and 

given 

J  He  fpeaks  all  along  in  his  Journals,  and  Life,  in  the/ 
Language  of  the  infpir'd  Writers  ;  and  as  tho*  he  ^er 
flgn'd  to  lead  his  Readers  into  an  Opinion  of  him  as, 
Vr'der  the  extraordinary  Influence  of  theHoLvGHOST, 
in  his  whole  ConduA.  This  is  fo  obvious,  that  it 
jpiuft  have  been  taken  Notice  of  by  all^who  have  read 
them,  however  curforily. 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         183 

given  too  much  Heed  to  the  Fancy  of  their  be 
ing,  in  an  immediate  and  extraordinary  Manner, 
guided  and  affifled  by  the  HOLY  SPIRIT  The 
Rev.  Meffieurs  BARBER  f  and  DAVENPORT  claim  Pre 
cedence  of  all  others. 

I  have  received  a  particular  Account  of  thefe 
Gentlemen,  upon  the  Head  we  are  confidering, 
from  an  able  and  faithful  Friend,  which  I  (hall 
gratify  the  Publick  with.  It  is  as  follows; "  - — 
"  With  Regard  to  Meffieurs  BARBER  and  DA- 
"  VENPORT  ; —  When  Mr.  WHITEFIELD'S  Fame, 
<f  and  the  wondrous  SuccefTes  of  his  Preach- 
u  ing  in  ENGLAND,  firft  reach'd  us,  they  received 
"  him  in  their  Minds  as  an  Angel  of  GOD, 
(f  and  thought  furely  the  Time  was  at  the  Door, 
€f  when  the  Glory  of  the  LORD  ihould  fill  trie 
"  whole  World,  and  the  People  be  turn'd  to  him 
"  as  one  Man  ;  not  doubting  but  that  Mr. 
«  WHITEFIELD  was  a  chofen  eminent  Inftrument  in 
**  this  Work.  When  he  firft  came  to  NEW- YORK, 
"  you  know  he  was  received  and  admir'd,  and 
(f  what  a  mighty  Influence  he  had  upon  the  Paf- 
"  Jions  of  his  Hearers.  Thefe  Gentlemen  hearing 
(C  of  thefe  Things,  were  abundantly  confirmed  in 
"  this  Thought,  that  vital  Religion  was  beginning 
"  to  have  a  glorious  Revival,  and  aftonifhing  Spread 
"  thro'  the  whole  Land  ;  and  that  Mr.  W — D, 
(f  whom  they  efteemed  a  wonderfully  holy  Man, 
<f  would  be  an  eminent  Promoter  thereof.  Here- 
"  upon  they  apply 'd  thernfelves,  iii  an  extraor- 

N  4  dinary 


This  Mr.  BARBER  went  with  Mr.  W D    to 

GEORGIA  ;  and  is  now  at  the  ORPHAN-HOUSE, 
and  has  (  as  I  have  lately  heard  )  the  chief  Care  of 
inflrufting  and  bringing  up  the  Children  there* 


j  84  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

"  clinary  Manner,  to  feek  of  GOD  the  Out-pour* 
<(  ing  of  fns  Spirit  upon  the  Land,  to  bring  for- 
*c  ward  the  expefted  happy  Day  ;  and  particu- 
f(  iarly,  that  he  would  pleafe  more  fully  to  in- 
"  ftrucl  them,  what  he  was  about  to  do,  and  give 
<f  them  a  great  Share  •  of  his  Spirit,  and  improve 
*c  them  as  eminent  Injtruments  in  promoting  this 
«  glorious  Work,  in  the  Expectation  and  Hope  of 
**  which,  their  Minds  were  now  fiwllowed  up. 

"  After  ibme  Time  of  waiting  and  feeking  in  this 
*c  Manner,  and  frequently  communicating  their 
"  Thoughts  to  each  other,  and  mutually  Strengthen- 
«  ing  and  confirming  one  the  other  in  thefe  Expecr 
«  tations,  thofe  Words,  in  Habak.  2.  3.  The 
"  Fifion  is  yet  for  an  appointed  Time,  but  at  the 
*'  End  it  floallfpeak,  and  not  lie  :  Though  it  tarry, 
^  wait  for  it,  becaiife  it  will  fur  ely  come,  it  will  not 
"  tarry  :  Thefe  Words,  I  fay,  were  IMPRESSED 
ic  with  uncommon  Strength  upon  Mr.  BARBER'S 
"  Mind,  and  polTeft  his  Imagination  and  Tho'ts 
*s  for  feme  Time.  By  this  he  underflood  in  ge- 
*-6  neral,  that  the  SPIRIT  confirmed  his  former 
"  Thoughts  of  GOD's  being  about  to  eire6l  a 
"  wonderful  Revival  of  Religion,  and  directed  him 
<;  to  wait  for  further  Difcoveries  of  that  Matter, 
"  which  fliould,  in  due  Time,  be  made  him.  This 
**  rendered  him.  much  more  engaged  in  feeking 
*5  and  expecting  forne  extraordinary  Difcoveries, 
<4  than  he  was  before  ;  and  very  earneft  to  know 
^  tlie  Fifion  ;  And  this,  being  by  him  communi- 
<*  cated  to  Mr.  D- — "r,  had  the  fame  Influence  on 
«  him, 

^<€  A  fliort  Time  after  this,  Mr.  BARBER,  having 
*c  been  up  late  one  Saturday  Night,  and  ibme- 
"  time  retir'd  the  next  Morning,  in  deep  Medita* 

"  tion 


PART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         185 

"  lion  on  thefe  Things,  in  earneft  Prayers  for, 
<6  andftrong  Deferes  and  great  Expectations  of  fome 
^  further  Difcoveries  of  this  Matter,  he  at  length 
cc  quitted  his  Retirement  to  attend  the  Morning 
"  Devotion  of  the  Family  ;  as  Part  of  which, 
"  he  read  the  102  Pfalm,  in  the  I3th  Verfe  of 
"  which  are  thefe  Words,  Thou  /halt  arife,  and 
"  have  Mercy  upon  Zion  :  For  the  Time  to  favour 
<c  her  ;  yea,  the  fet  Time  is  come :  At  the  read- 
"  ing  of  which,  it  was  POWERFULLY  IMPRESSED 
"  UPON  HIS  MIND,  that  that  was  the  opening  and 
"  J peaking  forth  oftheFifion.  And  by  thefe  Words, 
"  he  fuppos'd  he  had  received  certain  Intelligence 
"  from  him,  who  has  referred  the  Times  and  Sea- 
"  fons  before  appointed,  in  his  own  Hands,  that  the 
"  Time,  the  fet  Time,  for  the  glorious  Coming  of 
"  the  Kingdom  of  Grace  was  now  fulfilled  :  The 
ic  Senfe  of  which",  and  other  concurring  Thoughts 
"  fb  over-poured  his  animal  Frame,  that  he  funk 
"  down  in  his  Chair,,  and  remained  for  fome  Time 
*c  but  jufl  alive.  At  length  recovering,  though 
"  remaining  exceeding  faint  and  weak,  he  went 
"  out  and  attended  the  publick  Service  of  the 
"  Sabbath. 

"  After  this,  he  fpent  about  a  Week,  as  I  re- 

"  member,  in  going  from  Houfe  to  Houfe  through 

"  all  his  Pariflo,  declaring  unto  all,  both  great  and 

<;  fmall,  what  Difcoveries  GOD  had  made  to  him 

"  of  what  he  was  about  to  do,  and  how  ht  faint- 

"  ed  at  the  beholding  of  the  Fifion  (which  he  coin- 

6  par'd,  as  to  his  People,  fo  afterwards  to  others, 

"  in  other  Places,  to  EZEKIEL'S  and  DANIEL'S  Faint  - 

"  ing,  and  being  weakened  and   aftoni/hed  at  be- 

c  holding  fome  of  the  Manifestations  of  the  Glory 

<  aftd  terrible  Majefly  of  the  LORD)  and  folemn- 

tt  ly  warning  and  exhorting  them  to  repent,  for 

"  that 


186  71%*  $f  a  bad  PART    L 

"  that  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  was  at  Hand  :  And 
"  this  he  did  as  one  extraordinarily  injtrufted  and 
"  commiffioned  for  that  Purpofe.  And  from  this 
"  Time  he  openly  declar'd,  that  he  had  an  ex- 
"  traordinary  Call  and  MiJJion  to  go,  and  publifh 
"  abroad  what  GOD  had  reveal'd  to  him,  con- 
•c  cerning  the  wonderful  Revival  of  Religion,  which 
"  was  now  to  begin  ;  and  to  wa;a  and  call  Pco- 
*c  pie  to  Repentance  under  the  immediate  Direction 
«  of  the  HOLY  GHOST.  Whether  he  founded  his 
"  Call  upon  the  above  mentioned  Texts  alone, 
"  or  on  fome  others  with  them  I  know  not. 

"  After  this,  he  left  the  OYSTER-PONDS,  (  the 
"  Place  where  he  had  been  Preaching)  and  went 
"  forth  to  publiih  and  preach  the  fame  Things 
"  unto  others;  and  came  firft  toSoirrnoLD,  where 
"  he  found  Mr.  D — T  fully  in  his  Sentiments  as 
"  to  thefe  Things,  abfolutely  believing  that  the 
"  LORD  had  fpoken  to  him  ;  which  he  might  be 
"  the  rather  difpos'd  to  do,  as  he  had  himfelf, 
<c  much  about  the  fame  Time,  STRONG  IMPRESSI- 
"  ONS,  and,  as  he  believed,  PARTICULAR  INTIMA- 
"  TIONS  FROM  THE  HOLY  GHOST,  of  the  fame  Things, 
«  in  thofe  Words  of  the  115  Pfalm,  the  I2th, 
"  1 3th,  1 4th  Verfes,  The  LORD  hath  been  mind-: 
"  fid  of  us,  he  will  bkfs  us  ;  he  will  blefs  the  > 
<c  Houfe  of  Ifrael  ;  he  will  blefs  the  Houfe  of 
«  Aaron  ,•  he  will  blefs  them  that  fear  the  LORD,  : 
"  both  fmall  and  great.  He  /hall  increafe  you  more 
"  and  more,  you  and  your  Children. 

Accordingly,  Mr.  DAVENPORT  call'd  an  AJJem-  \ 
«c  bly  of  the  People,  in  which  Mr.  BARBER  declar-  f 
"  ed  the  fame  Things,  which  he  had  done  before 
c*  at  the  OYSTER-PONDS  ;     and  exhorted  th,em  in 
"  like  Manner.    From  thence  he  went  forward! 

through  | 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         18? 

"  through  all  the  Parifies  of  that  Town,  faying, 
*<  for  Subftance,  every  where  the  fame  Things. 

*c  No  B.  When  he  went  from  the  OYSTER-PONDS 
*f  upon  this  Bufmefs,  as  he  counted  his  Mifflon 
><  fomewhat '  like  that  of  our  LORD's  Difciples, 
"  who  were  fent  forth  before  him  into  every 
*'  City,  whither  he  himfelf  would  come,  so  he 
*'  fuppos'd  himfelf  oblig'd  to  follow  the  Dire&iont 
*'  given  them  on  that  Occafion  ;  and  accord- 
<c  ingly,  took,  no  Money  with  him,  neither  Change  of 

*  Apparel,  nor  Shoes,  but  was  ihod  with  Boots  :  And 
"  as  he  paft  along  through  the  feveral  Pari/hes  of 

*  SOUTHOLD,  he  publickly  declared,   that  he  bad 
*'  laid  afide  all  Study  and  Fore- thought   of  what  he 
"  fhould   deliver  in  his  publick  Speeches   to   the 
"  People,  (fome  who  heard  him  thought  fo)  and 
"  depended  wholly  on  the  IMMEDIATE  DIRECTION 
"  OF  THE  HOLY  GHOST,  and  that  'twas  given  him 
"  In  that  Hour,  from  Time  to  Time,  what  he  fhould 
^  fpeak  :    Alfo,  that  he  knew  nothing  where  he 
"  was  to  go  next  beforehand  ,*     but  was  IMMEDI- 
"  ATELY  INSTRUCTED  as   to  that  by  the  SPIRIT, 
"  from  Day  to  Day.     From  this  Time  likewife, 
"  he  took  it  upon  him  to  judge  and  determine  the 
*'  fpirtiwl 'State  of  People  with  great  Affurance  ; 
*c  in  all  which  Things  Mr.  DAVENPORT  concerted 
*'  with  him,  and  has  ever  ilnce,  in  a  great  Mea- 
**  fure,  profeffed  and  afted  accordingly, 

<<  From  the  Wefi-End  of  SOUTHOLD,  Mr.  BAR- 
cc  BER'S  Spirit  led  him  to  an  obfcure  Place  about 
^  twenty  Miles  forward,  call'd  the  OLDMANS  ; 
"  where,  at  his  Coming,  he  call'd  the  People  to- 
*'  gether,  and  fpake  to  them  the  fame  Things  he 
afi  along  declarU  Here  he  abode  fome 

Months, 


i88  Things  of  a  \>*&  PART    I. 

"  Months,  refufing  for  a  long  Time  to  preach  to 
"  them  any  more,  though  often  defir'd,  as  I  was 
"  informed  about  that  Time  :  Neither  could  he 
"  be  perfwaded  to  remove  thence,  or  return  to 
<c  OYSTER-PONDS,  though  much  importun'd  there- 
<c  to''by  fome  of  his  bell:  Friends,  who  went  from 
<c  thence  for  that  Purpofe  ;  but  led  an  inactive 
*c  idle  Life,  'till  he  was  grown  very  fat  and  rag- 
"  ged  ;  alledging  in  his  Juftification,  that  he  had 
"  received  NO  DIRECTION  FROM  THE  SPIRIT  TO  RE- 
"^MOVE  THENCE, -and  muft  remain  Jlationed  there, 
"  fo  long  as  the  Cloud  abode  upon  the  Tabernacle. 
"  At  length,  after  fome  Excursions,  he  returned 
"  to  OYSTER-PONDS,  and  from  thence,  over  a 
"  while,  went  to  RHODE-ISLAND  to  fee  Mr,  W— D, 
"  and  join'd  himfelf  to  him." 

Before  I  go  on  with  my  Friend's  Narration,  I 
would  juft  remark,  that  this  Gentleman  brought 
this  fame  Spirit  along  with  him  to  RHODE-ISLAND. 
Mr.  WHITEFIELD  relates,  f  "  that  he  told  him, 
"  he  came  to  RHODE-ISLAND,  under  a  full  Con- 
"  vi6Hon,  that  he  iliould  fee  him  there,  and  had 
"  been  waiting  for  him  eight  Days  ;  for  he  faid, 
"  thefe  Words  were  MIGHTILY  IMPRESSED  ON  HIS 
"  HEART,  Is  not  AARON  the  Levite  thy  Brother  ? 
"  /  know  he  can  SPEAK  WELL  ;  and  alfo,  behold,  he 
<c  cometb  forth  to  meet  thee,  and  when  he  feeth  thee9 
<e  he  will  be  glad  in  his  Heart  :  And  I  will  be  with 
*'  thy  Mouth,  and  with  his  Mouthy  and  will  teach 
"  -you  what  ye  /hall  do."  But  what  is  more  wor 
thy  of  Notice  is  the  Letter  he  fent  to  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD,  which  concludes  with  this  unheard 
of  Paragraph.*  "  I  (hall  omit  writing  any  Thing, 

f    See  his  Journal  at  NEW-ENGLAND^  Page  42. 
*  Ibid.  %w^.  Page' III 

«  snd 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         189 

"  and  only  hereby  prefent  my  hearty  Love  ; 
"  and  let  you  know,  that  I  am  now  waiting 
<f  at  the  Pofl  of  your  Door  for  AdmiJJlon.  Tho' 

"   I    AM      UNWORTHY,      MY     LORD     IS     WORTHY, 

"  IN  WHOSE  NAME,  I  TRUST,  I  COME."  How  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD  could  think  fo  well  of  this  Part  of 
the  Letter,  as  to  publifh  it  to  the  World,  I  am  at 
a  Lofs  to  conceive.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  an, 
A6t  of  downright  grofs  Idolatry.  He  makes  Ufe  of 
the  GREAT  SAVIOUR  as  a  Medium  of  Approach  to  a 
frail  mortal  Man.  I  trufl  Mr.  W  —  D  did  not  fee 
it  in  this  Light  ;  but  it's  the  genuine  Conftruft'wn 
of  the  Thing  :  And  I  wifli  it  may  be  blotted  out 
of  every  one  of  thefe  Journals,  as  not  fit  to  be 
feen  among  Chriflians.  I  now  proceed, 

«  From  the  Time  of  Mr.  B—  -R'S  paffing  thro' 
"  SOUTHOLD,  in  the  Manner  above-mentioned, 
"  which  was,  as  I  remember,  in  March  1740, 
fc  Mr.  D-—  T  betook  himfelf  to  much  the  fame 
"  Method  of  addreffing  and  exhorting  his  People, 
"  with  incredible  Zeal  and  Earneftnefs,  perfuaded 
cc  as  he  was,  that  the  SPIRIT  HAD  REVEALED  TO 
"  HIM,  that  the  Kingdom  of  GOD  was  NOW  coming 
"  among  them  with  Power,  and  that  he  had  an 
u  EXTRAORDINARY  CALL  to  labour  in  the  Advance- 
"  ment  thereof. 

"  Particularly,  at  a  Meeting  of  many  of  his  Peo- 
ff  pie,  at  his  Lodgings,  he  continued  his  Speech 
to  them  for  almofl  twenty  four  Hours  together, 
'till  he  was  quite  wild,  and  fo  fpent  and  over- 
come,  that  he  did  not,  recover  his  Strength  and 
Calmnefs  of  Thought  and  PaJJions,  'till  after  feme 
Days  Confinement  to  his  Chamber  ;  all  which, 
was,  with  him,  the  pure  Effect  of  the  mighty 
Energy  of  the  Spirit  upon  his  Mind. 

"At 


cf 


190  Things  of  a  baa  PART    I, 

ff  At  this  Time  alfo,  he  began  to  make  an  o- 
fe  pen  Difference  between  his  Communicants, 
fc  fuch  as  he  judged  converted  and  others  ;  call- 
"  ing  the  one  BROTHER,  the  other  NEIGHBOUR, 
"  both  in  fpeaking  to  them,  and  of  them  :  Which, 
"  at  length,  proceeded  fo  far,  that  he  publickly 
"  forbid  the  NEIGHBOURS  to  partake  of  the  Sacrament , 
«  fome  of  whom  were  accounted  as  fubflantial  and 
"  valuable  Chriflians  as  any  among  them*  By  this 
"  new  and  flrange  Method  of  Gonduft,  uihur'd  in 
"  as  it  was,  the  People's  Minds  were  prefently 
"  thrown  into  mighty  Tumults.  Some  believed 
"  this  Gentleman's  Fancies  to  be  REVELATIONS  OF 
"  THE  SPIRIT  ;  and  his  Words  9  ORACLES  :  But 
"  the  moft  Part  were  aftonifhed  and  confounded 
"  in  their  Thoughts.  Many  were  foon  thrown 
u  into  a  tumultuous  Concern  and  Terror,  and  Num- 
"  bers  over  a  little  while  pronounced  Converts* 

"  I  muft  acquaint  you  with  one  Thing  more* 
"  worthy  of  Notice,  which  happened  the  Sum- 
"  mer  following.  There  was  a  poor  Woman  liv- 
"  ing  in  the  next  Parlfh  to  Mr.  DAVENPORT'S, 
u  counted  religious,  who  had  been  totally  dlftract- 
"  ed  of  a  long  Time,  and  dumb  for  a  Seafon.  Mr. 
"  DAVENPORT,  pofTefl  with  a  Notion,  that  he 
"  could  pray  her  into  her  right  Mind,  and  to  the 
"  Ufe  of  her  Tongue,  though  the  Phllljllnes  could 
"  afford  her  no  Relief,  fpent  a  Day  of  Faftlng 
«  and  Prayer  for  that  Purpofe,  with  a  Number 
46  of  his  admiring  Brethren.  At  this  Meeting  (I 
"  think  it  was)  he  fet  a  certain  Day,  by  which 
"  Time,  if  not  before,  he  was  affured,  fhe  would 
"  be  delivered,  and  recover  her  Speech.  On  that 
"  very  Day,  the  Woman  died,  without  having 
"  fpoken  a  Word,  or  difcovering  any  Signs 
"  of  being  in  her  right  Mind.  When  this  was 

"  objected 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         191 

"  objefted  to  him,  he  faid,  his  Faith  was  verifi- 
"  edy  and  Prayers  anfwered,  in  the  Event  ;  for 
"  thac  ihc  w*;>  delivered  that  very  Day  by  being 
"  received  to  Heaven. 

"  I  was  my  felf  at  SOUTHOLD  flmdry  Days,  a- 
"  bout  fix  Weeks  after  the  firft  beginning  of 
tf  thefe  Things  ;  and  then  and  there  received  the 
"  Subftance  of  this  Account,  fo  far  as  it  relates  to 
"  Things  trail  fafted  before  my  being  there,  partly 
"  from  Mr.  D  -----  T'S  own  Mouth,  and  partly  from  a 
"  Gentleman  of  hisParifh  of  undoubted  Credit,  who 
"  had  the  greaceft  Advantages  to  know  thefe 
"  Things,  perhaps,  of  any  Man  in  the  Place  ;  Mr. 
«  D—  -i  then  lodging  at  his  Houfe.  And  all  the 
"  other  Parts  of  it  have  been  fo  credibly  related 
<c  to  me,  and  fo  often  confirmed,  that  I  know  no 
<c  Reafon  to  doubt  their  Truth. 


€e  When  Mr.  D—  T  came  to  SAY-BROOK,  which 
was  the  latter  Part  of  Augufl,  1741,  he  had 
raifed  Expe£lations  of  making  many  Converts 
"  there.  I  had  heard,  fundry  Times,  before  he 
"  came  from  the  ISLAND,  of  his  Defign  to  come 
"  to  this  Place,  and  that  he  had  exprefl  a  ftrong 
«  Belief  i  that  the  LORD  had  much  People  to  be  ga- 
"  thered  out  of  SAY-  BROOK.  And  while  he  was  aC 
"  LYME,  where  he  tarried  fome  Time,  I  heard 
"  frequently  of  his  expreffing  an  Expe6lation  of 
"  doing  Wonders  here.  Some  of  his  Difciples, 
"  and  intimate  Friends,  and  of  the  Chief  of  that 
"  Way,  his  own  Par  i  ft  oner  sy  who  came  over  to 
"  this  Town,  from  him,  when  at  LYME,  told 
"  fome  of  the  ^People,  that  .  the  LORD  HAD  RE- 

"   MARKABLY  SIGNIFIED     TO  MR.    DAVENPORT,    that 

"  he  had  a  GRE-AT  WORK  to  do  at  SAY-BROOK  ; 
c  and  that  fome  of  the  BRETHREN  had  had  the 

"  like 


192  Things  of  a  bad  P  A  R  T    I. 

*<  like  INTIMATION,  and  that  they  themfelves  were 
"  FULL  OF  THIS  FAITH  :  And  this  feems  to  have 
"  been  the  general  Expectation  of  his  Adherents  fo 
"  far  as  I  can  learn. 

"  I  fuppofe,  while  his  Imagination  was  fired 
"  with  the  Profped  of 'doing  Wonders  here,  he 
"  either  read,  or  happened  to  recollect  in  his 
cc  Mind,  the  Story  of  JERICHO,  whereupon  it  oc- 
"  cur'd  to  his  Thoughts,  that  the  Conqueft  he  ex- 
"  peeled  to  make  of  SAY-BROOK,  was  well  repre- 
"  fented  thereby :  Upon  which,  his  Imagination 
"  took  the  Hint,  and  painted  out  a  moil  pleafmg 
"  Comparifon,  which  raifed  his  Paffions,  gladdened 
"  his  Heart,  inflam'd  his  Zeal,  and  increased  his 
u  Confidence  of  Succefs,  and  fo  beguil'd  him  into 
"  a  fond  Belief,  that  the  SPIRIT  OF  GOD  HAD  RE- 

<c   VEALED  AND  CONFIRMED  tO  him  what  WONDERFUL 

fc  THINGS  were  to  be  done,  in  this  Place,  by  his 
"  Hands >  before  hidden  under  the  Difguife  of  that 
"  Piece  of  Scripture  Hiftory. 


<c  My  Reafon  for  this  Suppofition,  is,  the  Man- 
ff  ner  of  his  fpeaking  of  this  People,  and  bwtfelf, 
(f  when  here,  both  in  his  Praying  and  Preaching. 
ff  JERICHO,  according  to  hislleprefentationof  the 
"  myjlical  Senfe  of  that  Piece  of  Hiftory,  is  SAY- 
<c  BROOK  ;  the  Walls  of  it,  the  People's  Oppofition  to 
"  his  Spirit,  or  according  to  his  Senfe  of  the  Mat-: 
ff  ter,to  the  SPIRIT  OF  GOD;  The  KING  OF  JERICHO, 
"  is  the  MINISTER  of  the  Place  ;  the  Prieft's 
"  compqffing  the  Walls,  and  founding  'Rams-Horns, 
"  is  his  compaffing  the  Town  about,  and  preaching 
"  the  Word  here  ;  the  feven  Days  that  they 
"  compared  the  Walls,  before  they  fell,  figni- 
«  fies  a  fet  Time  for  the  People's  falling  from  then* 
((  Oppofition  to  his  Ways,  to  GOD  and  Religion, 

according 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        193 

"  according  to  him  ;  and  that,  at  that  Time,  the 
"  King,  the  Minijler  fliould  be  jlain,  and  the  Peo« 
"  pie  made  willing  Captives  to  him.  This  fet  Time, 
((  he  had  a  great  Mind  fliould  not  exceed  the  Li- 
"  mits  of  feven  Days,  and  exprefl  himfelf  publick* 
*'  ly,  fome  of  thefirft  Days  of  his  being  here,  as 
* '  flrongly  expecting  that,  in  that  Thne,  they  fliould 
<{  be  brought  over  ;  though  fo  far  as  I  can 
<f  learn,  he  was  fo  cautious  as  never  to  declare 
"  pofitively,  that  this  would  be  effe&ed  within  the 
fc  Compafs  of  the  feven  Days.  However,  he  had 
"  the  Mortification  to  tarry  his  Days,  and  was 
"  obliged,  at  lift,  to  leave  the  Walls  flanding 
"  more  firmly  than  when  he  came  to  demolilh 
"  them." 

"  Some  of  the  loft  Days  of  this  Gentleman  s  be- 
c<  ing  in  this  Place,  he  declared  that  the  SPIRIT 
cc  HAD  NOT  TOLD  HIM,  when  the  Work  fliould  be 
(f  accompliihed,  but  only  that  it  fliould  be  in  the 
"  APPOINTED  TIME  ;  and  that  he  was  ajjured,  ic 
"  would  be,  when  the  SET  TIME  was  come,  which, 
"  whether  it  would  be,  this  Tear  or  next,  he  knew 
"  not. 

"  Mr.  D— - T  came  to  this  Town  on  Tuefday. 
<c  On  Thurfday,  or  Friday^  of  the  fame  Week, 
u  Capt.  JOHN  LEE,  of  the  eaft  Parifh  in  LYME^ 
*'  came  over,  and  brought  the  following  Story, 
"  A  Number  of  little  Children,  of  that  Parijb,  held 
ts  a  private  Meeting  among  thgmfelves,  one  Even- 

6  ing,  after  Mr.  D— -T'S  being  at  SAY-BROOK  ; 

4  in  which,  among  other  Things,  they  prayed 
"  very  earneftly,  that  Mr.  DAVENPORT  might  have 
"  great  Succefs  in  that  Place,  ufmg  the  Pbrafes, 
"  he  waS  fo  very  fond  of ;  viz.  that  at  the  found* 
"  ing  of  his  Rams- Horns,  the  Walls  of  JERICHO  might 
O  "  fall. 


194-  Things  of  a  PART    I. 

"  fall     The  Children  were,  to  Appearance,  under 
"  a  great  and  ftrong  Imprejfion  ;     many  of  them 
"  falling  down.       One  of  them   ran   and  called 
(f  Capt.  LEE,  who,  coming  to  the  Meeting,  found 
<f  them  exceeding  full,  and  wonderfully  transported. 
*(  'Twas  reprefented,  and  received  by  Mr.  DA- 
<c  VENPORT'S  Adherents  as  a  very  remarkable  Thing, 
"  that   the  Children,  at  the  Diftance  of  a  dozen 
*c  Miles,  fliould  be  mov'd  to  pray  for  Succefs  to 
<f  Mr.  DAVENPORT'S  Preaching  in   SAY-BROOK,  in  \ 
"  the  fame  Pbrafes  which  he  himfelf  ufed  in  the 
"  Place,  when  they  could  not  be  fuppofed  to  know 
"  that  he  ufed  the  like   ;     and  as  a  clear  Proof, 
"  that  he  was  guided  by  a  good  SPIRIT,  and  as 
"  a  certain  Earneft,   that  by   the  founding  of  his] 
u  Rams-Horns,  the  Walls  of  the  Town  mould  be 
"  fhaken  to  the  Ground.     It  was  remark'd  by  others 
«  upon  the  Qccafion  of  this  Story,  that  Mr.  D-T] 
"  had  publicity  us'd  the  fame  Phrafes,  while  yet' 
«  at  LYME,  with  Regard  to  SAY-BROOK  ;     pray-> 
"  ing,  that,  at  the  Sound  of  his  Rams-Horns,  the 
"  Watts  of  JERICHO  might  fall  :     And  therefore, 
Cf  that  the  Children  might  well  know,  that  he  had 
*'  ufed  thefe  Exprejflions,  and  life  them  themfelves^ 
<c  in  Imitation  of  him,  without  any  EXTRAORDI-! 
«'  NARY  dilating  of  the  HOLY  GHOST. 

"  'Twas  alfo  remark'd,  that  this  Story   camei 
"  very  feafonably  for  Mr.  D — T,  his  Rams-horns* 
"  beginning,  by  this  Time,    to  grow  into  Con- 
<c  tempt  among  the  People.    And  indeed,  fo  funk- 
<c  was  their  Reputation,  that  this  Story,  with  all; 
"  the  Colourings  that  could  be  given  it,  could  not; 
"  procure  them  any  Credit.     Some  were  fo  ex- 
"  travagant  as  even  to  imagine,  that  this  look'd 
<*  very  like  a  Romi/b  Miracle,  and  to  fufpeft  fome 

*'  pious 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         195 

"  pious  Fraud  in  the  Matter.— -The  Impartial  will 
"  doubtlefs  judge  reafonably  of  this  Affair/1 

This  Account  I  received  from  the  Revd.  Mr. 
WILLIAM  HART  of  SAY-BROOK,  who  Hands  ready 
to  juftify  every  Article  contained  in  it.  It  may 
feem  indeed  to  fome  like  a  Romance,  and  be  fcarce 
thought  worthy  of  the  lead  Credit.  I  (hall  there 
fore,  to  give  Countenance  to  it,  prefent  the  Read 
er  with  fomc  Part  of  Mr.  D T'S  Converfation 

with  the  Body  of  the  Minifters  in  this  Town,  and 
the  Minifters  of  CHARLESTOWN,  who,  upon  his 
coming  here,  fent  to  him  to  deflre  to  have  fome 
friendly  Difcourfe  with  him  :  In  which  Conver 
fation,  will  be  feen  (  if  I  miftake  not  )  the  fame 
Spirit,  operating  in  the  fame  Manner,  as  has  been 
above  defcribed,  however  extravagant  it  may 
appear  to  the  World.  It  is  as  follows, 

"  Mr.  D T,  being  prefent  with  the  Mni- 

"  fters,  was  ask'd  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  COLMAN,  in  the 
"  Name  of  his  Brethren,  to  give  them  an  Account 
"  of  his  Opinion,  with  Refpecl:  to  the  Operation 
"  and  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  on  the 
"  Minds  of  Believers  ;  becaufe  they  had  heard, 
"  that  he  laid  too  much  Weight  upon  Impulfes 
"  and  Impreffions.  Mr.  D — T,  after  lifting  his. 
"  Eyes  and  Face  to  Heaven,  and  praying  to  GOD 
"  as  if  he  expected  immediate  Direction  from  him, 
"  faid,  that  he  would  anfwer  as  the  LORD  fhould 
"  affifl  him  :  And  then  began  to  talk  as  if  he 
"  meant  to  give  the  Dottor  a  dirett  Anfwer  ;  but 
"  having  talk'd,  it  may  be,  a  Quarter  of  an  Hour* 
"  without  coming  to  the  Point,  or  giving  the  Mi- 
"  niflers  any  Satisfaction,  the  Dottor  (lope  him, 
<e  and  deflred  him  to  give  a  catagorical  Anfwer  to 
*'  the  Queftion  propofed  :  Upon  which,  he  faid, 
O  2,  "  he 


196  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I, 

u  he  would  give  them  an  Account  of  his  Conver- 
"  Jion,  and  GOD's  Dealings  with  his  Soul  ;  and 
"  then  prayed  again  to  GOD  for  Direction.  When 
"  one  deilred  him  to  be  mort,  he  anfwered,  he 
"  would  be  as  fhort  as  poffible,  but  that  he  would 
"  notftint  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  neither. 

"  The  Account  he  gave  of  his  Converfion,  and 
"  GOD's  Dealings  with  his  Soul,  or  his  Experiences, 
"  as  he  at  other  Times  expreft  it,  laded  from 
"  nine  to  eleven  at  Night  :  and  for  an  Hour  and 
"  half  next  Forenoon,  with  but  little  Interruption. 
"  Among  a  great  many  other  Things,  he  told  us 
"  the  two  following  Stories. 

ef  The  firfl  was  occafioned  by  his  being  ask'd, 
"  why  Ije  call'd  his  Fellow-Traveller  his  drmour- 
"  Bearer  ?  In  Reply  whereto,  he  faid,  that  be- 
"  fore  he  commenc'd  Itinerant,  this  Brother  that 
<c  was  now  with  him,  and  had  been  his  Fellow- 
46  Traveller  from  the  beginning,  propos'd  to  him 
4C  to  go  and  preach  the  Gofpel  beyond  the  Bounds 
*c  of  his  own  Congregation  ;  to  whom  he  gave 
"  no  Anfwer,  as  not  knowing  the  Will  of  the  LORD 
"  concerning  that  Matter.  But  after  fome  Medita- 
"  tion  upon  it,  and  Prayer  to  GOD,  as  he  open- 
"  ed  the  Bible  to  read,  the  Story  of.  JONATHAN  and 
"  his  Armour-Bearer  caft  up  to  him,  without  his 
"  having  the  lead  Thought  of  turning  to  it.  He 
"  read,  and  faw  (  as  he  faid  )  every  Line,  every  \ 
"  Word  in  a  new  Light  ;  and  the  LORD  caufed 
"  it  to  make  a  STRONG  IMPRESS  ION  upon  him.  As 
"  JONATHAN  and  his  Armour-Bearer  went  to  the 
"  Gdrnfon  of  the  Philjftinef,  fo  he  thought  the 
".LORD  CALLED  HIM  and  the  Man  that  was  with 
"  him  to  go  and  preach  to  the  People  in  EAST-' 
44  HAMPTON.  He  communicated  this  IMPRESSION 

"to 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         197-.. 

«  to  the  Man,  who  anfwered  as  JONATHAN'S  Ar- 
u  mour-Bearer  did,  do  all  that  is  in  thine  Hearty  be- 
"  hold,  I  am  with  thee.  Then  they  prayed  to  the 
"  LORD,  and  the  IMPRESSION  upon  his  Mind  to 
"  go  to  EAST-HAMPTON  was  fo  ftrong,  that  he  was 
"  as  furc  the  LORD  SENT  HIM  as  he  was  of  his  own 
"  Exiftence.  Moreover,  the  LORD  TOLD  HIM, 
"  that  he  fliould  convert  as  many  of  the  People  at 
tc  EAST-HAMPTON  to  CHRIST  JESUS,  as  JONATHAN 
"  and  his  Armour- Bearer  flew  of  the  Philiftines. 
"  But  then,  he  told  the  MAN,  that  as  the  Philif- 
"  tines  called  to  JONATHAN  and  his  Armour-Bear- 
<c  er,  to  come  up  to  them,  fo  they  muft  wait,  till 
"  they  fliould  receive  a  Call  from  the  People  of 
"  EAST-HAMPTON.  Accordingly,  fome  of  the 
"  People,  in  a  few  Days,  fignified  to  Mr.  D— T, 
"  that  they  would  be  glad,  he  would  come  and 
«  preach  to  them.  Away  they  travelled,  be  and 
"  the  Man,  up  to  their  Knees  in  Snow  ;  which  he 
"  compared  to  JONATHAN'S  and  his  Armour-Bearer's 
"  climbing  up,  upon  their  Hands  and  upon  their  Feet, 
"  to  the  Garnfon  of  the  Philijlines.  And  according 
"  to  the  Faith  which  GOD  had  wrought  in  him,  he 
"  faid,  he  flew  twenty  Perfons  in  EAST- HAMPTON- 
"  i.  e.  He  converted  twenty  to  JESUS  CHRIST. 

The  other  Story  he  told  was  this.  The  LORB 
"  COMMANDED  him  to  go  to  a  Town,  the  Name  of 
"  which  I  have  forgot,  to  preach  to  the  People. 
"  As  he  rode  along,  he  became  very  uneafy  and 
"  troubled  in  his  Thoughts,  becaufe  he  knew  not 
"  what  he  fliould  fay  to  the  People,  to  whom  he 
"  was  going.  He  prayed  to  the  LORD,  and  thefe 
"  Words  were  brought  to  his  Mind;,  and  made  a 
"  ftrong  Imprejfion  on  him,  Take  no  Thought  what 
«  you  /ball  fay,  for  it  /hall  be  given  you  .in  that  Hour* 
"  Upon  this  his  Trouble  vaniihed3  and  he  was 
O  3  «  as 


Things  of  a  }>*&  PART    L 

€e  as  firmly  perfewded  GOD  would  ajjlfl  him,  as  he 
"  was  of  the  Truth  of  his  own  Exijhnce.  [  This 
*c  Way  of  fpeaking  he  generally  us'd  in  fuch  Ca- 
"  fes]  When  he  began  to  preach,  he  had  neither 
* 6  Words  nor  Thoughts  enough  to  go  on  ;  but 
<c  very  foon,  GOD  all  at  once  darted  a  great  Light 
*'  into  his  Mind,  fo  that  for  one  Thought  he  was 
*(  able  to  utter  (and  he  faid  He  fpoke  very  flu- 
*f  ently  too )  GOD  put  ten  into  his  Heart. 

"  It  may  be  remarked,  when  he  told  the  Mini- 
€C  flers  of  his  having  done  any  Thing,  or  gone  to 
*'  any  Place,  he  always  expreft  it  in  fome  fuch 
*f  Language  as  that,  GOD  CALL'D  ME,  or  GOD 

f '   COMMANDED  ME,    Or  GOD  IMPRESSED  IT  UPON  MY 

ff  MIND  ;  and  particularly  he  told  them,  that 
cc  GOD  SENT  HIM  TO  BOSTON.  Being  ask'd,  if 
"  by  GO  Us  Calling,  or  commanding,  or  fending 
*'  him,  or  impr  effing  it  upon  his  Mind,  and  fuch  like 
if  Ways  of  fpeaking,  he  meant  that  GOD  IN- 
*'  spm'd  HIM  as  he  did  the  ancient  Prophets  ;  he 
ff  anfwered,  that  they  might  call  it  INSPIRATI- 
€f  ON,  or  by  what  other  Name  they  pleafed. 

(c  From  which,  and  many  fuch  like  Things,  attl 
"  the  Miniilers  concluded,  (  as  may  be  feen  m;j 
"  their  printed  Declaration-}  that  he  had  upon  him  a, 
<(  STRONG  TINCTURE  OF  ENTHUSIASM. 

(f  His  Fellow-Traveller  was  of  the  fame  Stamp, 
"  for  being  defir'd  to  give  an  Account  of  fome 
"  Things,  which  he  knew  better  than  Mr.  D— T, 
«  he  talk'd  juft  as  he  had  done.  The  LORD 
"  CALLED  me,  the  LORD  MADE  A  STRONG  IMPRESS i- 
46  ON  ON  MY  MIND,  I  was  as  fure  of  it  as  of  my 
"  own  Exigence,  and  the  like." 

N. 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency,         199 

N.  B.  This  Felloe-Traveller  is  a  Lay -Man,  of 
no  Education,  and  but  fmall  Capacity.  We  had 
often  heard  of  him  before  he  came  to  Town  with 
Mr.  D — T  :  t  And  though  he  was  always  fpoken 
of  in  the  Style  of  his  Armour- Bearer,  it  was  gene 
rally  thought  to  be  only  in  a  Way  of  Ridicule. 
But  when  Mr.  D— -T  came  to  Town,  it  was  foon 
feen  to  be  the  real  Truth  of  the  Cafe  ,*  for  he 
went  no  where  without  this  Man,  and  he  fo  far 
regarded  the  SOUND  of  his  Character  as  his  Armour- 
Bearer,  that,  wherever  he  walk'd  with  him,  he 
would  have  him  under  one  of  bis  Arms,  to  be,  as 
it  were,  a  Support  to  it.  And  in  this  Form  he  al 
ways  went  to  the  Place  where  he  was  to  preach, 
and  in  like  Manner  returned  from  it  :  And  all^ 
no  Doubt,  in  his  own  Imagination,  by  the  Di 
rection  of  the  SPIRIT. 

I  have  faid  fo  much  about  this  Mr.  D— T,  that 
I  fear,  I  have  been  too  tedious.  But  I  chofe  to 
be  thus  particular,  as  he  has  all  along  had  fo 
great  a  Hand  in  the  religious  Stir,  as  it  has  ap- 
pear'd,  more  efpecially,  in  mod  Places  in  CONNEC- 
TICUT,  and  LONG-ISLAND.  'Twas  he  that  began 
the  Out-cries,  Swoonings,  Raptures,  and  the  like 
Extraordlnarles,  in  thofe  Parts  :  Nor  has  any  Man 
been  more  fuccefsful  this  Way  than  he.  He 
ought  indeed  to  be  always  mentioned  as  the  moji 
noted  Inflrument,  in  the  Production  of  thofe  Re- 
markahles,  which  have  made  fo  much  Noife  in  the 
Land.  And  he  has  been  as  well  ipoke  of  by 
fome  of  the  famous  Men  in  the  new  Way,  as  any 
among  them  all.  Mr.  CROSSWELL  fays,  Mr.  WHITE- 
FIELD  declar'd  it  as  his  Tho't  of  him,*  "That  of  all 
Men  living  he  knew  of  none,  who  kept  a  clofer 

*  BOSTON  PoJl-Boy,  Numb,  392, 

O  4  H~alk 


200  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 


Walk  whb  GOD  ;  "     and  that  "  Mr.  TENNENT, 
in  his  Hearing,  gave  him  the  Character  of  being 
one  of  the  moft  heavenly  Men  he  was  ever  acquaint^ 
ed  with,"     And  for  himfelf,    «  he  prays  GOD 
to-  blefs  and  profper  this  wondrous  Man,  whom  he 
hath  madeftrong  for  himjelf."     And  giving  an  Ac 
count  of  his  Preaching  at  STONINGTON,  he  fays,f 
"  The  firft  Day  he  preach'd,  he  believed,  near  a 
"  Hundred  were  flruck  with  deep  Diflrefs  almofl 
«  in  a  Moment,  enquiring  what  they  fhould  do  to  be 
**  faved  "?   Many  of  his  Oppofers,  [among  the  reft,  . 
«  came  trembling,    and   asking    Forgivenefs  of 
«  GOD,  and  him,  for  all  their  hard  Speeches,  which 
"  they,  ungodly  Sinners,  had  ungodly  fpoken  againft 
"  him.     The  Hand  of  the  LORD  was  with  hW 
"  alfo,  the  following  Days,  fo  that  a   confiderabls 
**  Number  believed,  and  turned  to  the  LORD." 

He  adds,  "  To  be  brief,  the  Number  of  thofe 
t€  who  were  thought  to  have  received  the  KING 
"  of  GLORY  into  their  Souls,  in  eight  Days,  in 
^  three  Towns,  was  computed  to  be  about  one 
^  Hundred  ;  among  which,  fome  were  Negroes  ; 
"  and,  I  think,  about  twenty  Indians  ;  befides  a 
"  vaft  Multitude,  who  were  left  under  hopeful 
^  Convictions. 

But  from  the  Accounts  I  have  given  of  Mr. 
D^-'T  is  it  poffible,  thefe  Gentlemen  fhould  think 
jiiftly  of  him,  or  of  his  Succefs  in  Preaching.  And 
if  the  Converts  of  his  making  are  of  the  like  Spirit 
with  himfelf,  (  as  is  commonly  the  Cafe  )  what 
jnuft  be  the  Opinion  of  the  World  concerning 
them  ?  I  believe,  in.  general,  they  will  entertain 
a  jufl  Thought  of  them,  while  they  imagine  them 

'''  Ibid, 

to 


PART    I.      'and  dangerous  Tendency.         201 

to  befuch  Sort  of  Perfons  as  Mr.  D-— T  has  himfelf 
>een  defcribed  to  be. 

And  notwithftanding  thefe  high-  Encomiums  of 
is  Gentleman,  by  Mr.  W D,  T T,  C L, 

and  others  that  might  be  mentioned,  he  has  been 
a6tually  pronounced  non  compos  mentis  by  the  whole 
Government  of  CONNECTICUT.*  The  fame  Opinion 
1 2  Men,  under  Oath,  had  of  him,  here  at  BOSTON.! 
And  the  Minifters  in  this  Town  and  CHARLESTOWN 
have  declared  it  to  the  World  as  their  Judgment,§ 
"  That. he  is  a  Gentleman  much  a6led  by  fudden 
'*  Impulj'es,  upon  fuch  Explications  of  the  Holy 
"  Scriptures  to  himfelf  and  his  particular  Friends, 
"  Defigns  and  Purpofes,  as  they  can  by  no  Means 
"  approve  of,  or  juflify  ;  but  muft  needs  think 
"  very  dangerous  and  hurtful  to  the'  Inter  eft  of  Re- 
"  ligion ;"  For  which  Reafon,  among  others,  they 
were  united  to  a  Man  inrefufmg  him  their  Pulpits. 

After  all,  I  deny  not,  but  that  Mr.  D-— T  may 
have  been  the  Means  -of  Good  to  Souls,  i.  e.  Ac 
cident  ally  9  and  as  the  Tendency  of  his  Temper  and 
Conduft  may  have  been  overruled  in  GOD'S  Govern 
ment  of  the  World  ,•  for  in  the  natural  Courfe  of 
Things,  it  led  dire  ft  ly  to  Confufion  and  every  evil 
Work  ;  And  this  has,  in  Fa6l,  been  the  Effeft, 
more  or  lejs  wherever  he  has  gone. 

I  pafs  now  to  fome  other  Preachers  of  the  fame 
Spirit  I  have  been  defcribing  ,•  among  whom,  if 
I  ftiould  again  mention  Mr,  D— -T,  I  hope  the 


See  the  Account  at  large,  in  the  BOSTON  News- 
Paper,  Numb.  1997.  t  Evening-Poft,  Numb. 
370.  5  Their  printed  Declaration. 

Reader 


202  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

Header  will  forgive  me  ;  efpecially,  when  he 
fees  it  to  be  a  Matter  of  Neceffity,  in  order  to 
my  carrying  his  Thoughts  up  to  the  true  Source  of 
this  Quaker  i/h  Turn  of  Mind,  in  all  thefe  Gentle* 
men,  as  well  as  thofe  to  whom,  by  their  Means, 
it  has  been  propagated.  The  Gentlemen  I  have 
in  View,  befides  Mr.  D — T,  are  Meflieurs  POM- 
ROY,  WHEELOCK,  ALLEN,  BLISS  ,•  all  of  whom, 
it  is  generally  known,  are  of  one  Soul,  and  have 
gone  into  the  fame  Method  of  Conduct  :  Tho' 
I  believe  Mr.  D — T  has  outdone  them  all.  Thefe 
are  the  Mmifters  (excepting  Mr.  BLISS  whofe  Re- 
fidence  now  is  in  thefe  Pares)  who  have  had  the 
chief  Hand  in  raifing  the  Commotions  in  CONNECTI 
CUT  ;  where  fudden  Impulfes  and  extraordinary  Pre 
tences  to  the  Spirit,  have  been  more  general  (in  Pro 
portion)  and  Extravagant,  than  in  any  of  the  other 
Governments, 

I  have  been  at  no  fmall  Pains  to  trace  this  Spirit 
in  thefe  Gentlemen  up  to  its  true  Origin  :  And  as, 
I  think,  it  will  reflect  great  Light  upon  the  pre- 
fent  religious  State  of  Things  in  the  Land,  and  be 
of  publick  Service,  to  communicate  the  Informations 
I  have  received  upon  this  Head,  I  lliall  here  do 
it,  without  any  further  Apology. 

I  mall  firit  tranfcribe  a  Letter,  from  NEW- 
MI  LFORD,  dated  Nov.  16.  1742.  This  may  feem 
at  firft  View  to  be  remote  from  the  Bufmefs  in 
Hand  ;  but  the  Clofe  of  the  Letter,  together 
with  what  may  follow,  will  open  its  Defign,  and 
evidently  ihew  forth  the  Rife  of  the  Enthiijiafm 
of  the  abovenamed  Gentlemen.  Jt  is  as  follows, 

cf  Dear  Brother,  Your's  is  before  me,  wherein 
«  you  defire  of  me  a  Narrative  of  the  Rife,  Tranf- 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         203 

<f  aftions,  and  various  Tenets,  and  prefent  State,  of 
"  thofe  People  among  us  commonly  called,  QUA- 
<(  KERS  ,•  a  Task  very  difficult,  almoft  as  much 
(C  fo  as  that  of  the  whole  Affair  of  the  NEW- 
fe  LIGHTS,  as  they  are  called  ;  yet,  for  your  Sa- 
"  tisfaftion,  I  fliall  undertake  ^  the  Bufinefs,  and 
«  give  a  fliort,  general,  and  faithful  Account,  to 
"  the  beft  of  my  Ability  ;  though  the  doing  of 
4t"  this  will  be  a  renewing  of  Grief. 

Take  the  Account  in  the  following  Order. 

"  Some  Time  in  the  Year  1726  there  appeared 
(f  a  flaming  Zeal  for  Religion,  among  a  Number  of 
"  our  People  ;  the  Occafion  of  which  (  as  was 
<f  faid  )  was  the  dying  Coimfel  of  a  loofe  young 
ff  Maa  to  his  Companions.  They  fet  up  private 
"  Meetings,  which  they  carried  on  by  praying, 
"  reading  good  Books,  finging,  &c.  The  Meet- 
"  ings  were  chiefly  of  the  younger  Sort  of  People  ; 
if  of  CHILDREN  about  FIVE  or  six  Years  of  Age, 
"  and  fo  upwards  to  about  twenty  one,  or  two  : 
cc  And  there  were  among  them  two  or  three  of 
*(  thirty  Years,  or  more  ;  tho'  they  were  mainly 
"  of  the  more  youngerly  Sort.  There  feem'd  to 
"  appear  fo  much  of  a  Spirit  of  real  Religion  a- 
(t  mong  them,  that  we  were  greatly  encouraged 
"  with  the  Hope,  that  true  Chriftianity  was  re- 
"  viv'd  among  us  ;  and  we  were  flrengthened 
^  in  this  Hope  by  their  abundant  Zeal  and  I/Far  mtb  * 
"  in  religious  Things,  which  was  as  great  as  you 
may  any  where  behold  at  this  Day.  After  a 
while,  they  multiplied  their  Meetings  to  three 
or  four  in  a  Week,  and  I  my  felf  frequently 
met  with  them,  and  fome  elder  Perfons  ;  and 
were  ready  to  rejoice  with  them  in  the  feem- 
ing  slppearance  of  Religion.  The  Town  was  then 

birt; 


cf 


204  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  but  fmall,  I  fuppofe  under  the  Number  of  forty 
"  Families  ;  and  yet,  there  was  fuch  a  religious 
"  Progrefs,  that  there  was  added  to  the  Church, 
«-  FIFTY,  or  upwards,  in  about  the  Space  of  17 
«  or  1 8  Months. 

"  About  the  Space  of  a  Year  after  they  fet  out, 
te  as  I  remember,  Things  evidently  appear'd  with 
(C  another  Face.  They  firfl  difcover'd  a  great  De- 
"  gree  of  fphitual  Pride,  which  wonderfully  grew 
"  and  increafed  in  them,  and  evidenc'd  itfelf  by 
"  its  Fruits ;  efpecially,  a  Spirit  of  difcerning  and 
"  judging  the  State  of  others,  fo  that  there  were 
cc  fcarce  any  that  efcap'd  their  Cenfure,  either  a- 
cc  mong  the  Living  or  the  Dead,  in  their  Memory. 
<c  Upon  this  they  began  to  purge  their  Meetings, 
"  (to  ufe  their  Language)  and  difallow  the  uncon- 
"  verted  (  as  they  termed  them  )  to  meet  with 
<c  them  ;  for  they  gave  out,  that  there  werefalfe 
"  Brethren  and  Betrayers  :  And  they  fliifced  from 
"  Place  to  Place  that  they  might  have  none  but 
"  Converts  among  them.  By  this  Time,  we  be- 
cc  gan  to  be  much  alarmed,  elder  Perfons  with- 
"  drew  from  their  Meetings,  and  reflrain'd  their 
4<  Children  ;  yet  notwithftanding,  there  remain- 
a  ed  a  wonderful  Itch  in  many  to  be  with  them, 
"  and  fundry  did  follow  them  ;  and  they  allow'd 
"  them  fo  to  do,  in  Hope  of  prsfelyting  them. 

"  Soon  after  this,  they  began  to  correfpond 
"  with  the  Opinionifts  in  the  Country,  and  to  be 
"  the  Occafion  of  Talk  and  Noife.  The  Anaba$- 
"  tifts  wrote  to  them  from  RHODE-ISLAND  ;  and 
"  fo  did  the  ROGERS'S  Crew,  who  afterwards  made 
"  them  a  Vifit,  and  brought  them  Books,  with 
"  which  they  were  very  much  pleas'd  and  capti^ 
"  vated.  Now.it  was  that  the  Spirit  of  Pride 

«  and 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         205 

"  and  Error  began  more  openly  and  daringly  to 
"  appear  in  the  n.  They  fpeak  very  flightily  of 
"  the  Pfalms  of  DAVID,  and  fome  other  of  the 
"  Books  of  f acred  Canon  ;  not  to  mention  many 
t(  Books  of  human  Compofure,  which  they  treated 
"  with  Contempt  ;  tho'  highly  efteem'd  by  others 
"  as  orthodox  and  judicious  :  Nor  did  it  end  in 
"  this  only,  but  they  proceeded  further,  even  to 
<f  condemn  Gofpel-Minifters  in  general,  and  the  civil 
"  Magistrate  alfo.  To  our  civil  Rulers  they  gave 
"  no  better  Style  than  the  BEAST.— Thefe  Things, 
"  with  what  followed,  threw  the  Town  into  great 
"  Confufion,  (as  you  may  well  fuppofe)  which  is 
"  fo  well  known,  that  I  need  only  fpeak  it  : 
"  They  were  indeed  generally  lamented  and  dif- 
"  approved  by  the  venerable  Miniflers  about  us, 
"  as  the  Effects  of  &  Spirit  of  Error.— But  to  go  on, 

"  Upon  their  prof  effing,  and  ufing  Endeavours 
* f  to  fpread  thefe  lyings,  with  other  Errors,  and 
"  difcovering  at  the  fame  Time  great  Rancour  of 
"  Spirit,  thofe,  who  were  before  enfnared  by  their 
"  fair  Shew,  were  brought  to  confider ;  and  many 
"  left  them,  forfaking  their  Meetings.  Upon  this, 
"  the  -principal  Perfons  in  this  Affair,  to  the  Num- 
"  ber  of  about  fifteen  or  fexteen  in  all,  Men  and 
"  Women,  young  and  old,  SEPARATED  themfelves, 
"  went  out  from  us,  and  were  no  more  of  us  ; 
fetting  up  and  meeting  by  themfelves,  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  alfo  on  the  Thurfday,  which  were 
their  chief  and  conftant  Meeting- Days.  Tho' 
they  met  on  the  Sabbath,  yet  they  held  no  Sanc 
tity  in  that  Day  more  than  in  any  other  Day.  They 
alfo  chofe  a  Speaker  (as  they  termed  him)  whom 
they  principally  depended  on  ;  yet  notwith- 


tc 


it 


C€ 

^f 

"  Handing,  any  one  preached  that  was  moved  by  the 
*c  SPIRIT,  whether  Man  or  Woman  ;    tho'  not 

"  without 


20(5  Tilings  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

€e  without  they  were  thus  moved  by  the  SPIRIT : 
"  And  fo  they  went  on  managing  ;  yet,  as  I 
<c  am  credibly  informed,  fome  Years  ago,  there 
"  was  a  Time  when  the  SPIRIT  fail'd  them,  and 
"  they  had  none  but  Jilent  Meetings  for  a  Year  or 
*c  more.  Befides  their  Speaker,  they  had  another 
*c  Kind  of  Officer  among  them,  whofe  Bufinefs  it 
*c  was  to  take  Care  of  their  Cloathing,  as  to  its 
"  Colour,  Fafhion,  Make,  &c.  But  his  Title  I 
"  have  forgot.  However,  this  is  remarkable,  that 
"  as  they  began  with  fpiritual  Pride,  fo  this  con- 
«  founded  them  ;  for  it  was  their  Contention  a- 
"  bout  their  Officers  that  divided  them.  Part  are 
<•  returned  to  their  own  Sheepfold,  Part  gone  over 
«c  to  the  Church  o/"  ENGLAND,  and  about  fix  or  feven 
cf  Hill  remain  under  the  Influence  of  the  fame 
"  Spirit,  and  in  the  fame  Errors,  unlefs  (as  in  the 
"  Cafe  of  all  Error)  there  may  be  a  Variation  in 
*'  fome  Things  :  Though  I  muft  add,  that  even 
<c  thefe  fix  or  feven  feem'd,  of  late  Years,  to  be 
"  more  moderate  and  fociable,  and  there  was  a 
"  Profpecl:  of  their  returning  back  to  us,  before  the 
"  Appearance  of  the  NEW-LIGHT  ;  for  now  they 
"  feem  to  think,  They  are  the  Stone  cut  out  of  the 
"  Mountain,  that  (ball  fill  the  wbole  Earth. 

"  As  for  their  particular  Tenets,-  it  is  difficult, 
"  they  are  fo  much  given  to  change,  to  defcribe 
"  them  ;  yet,  in  general,  (befides  their  Notion 
<*  of  the  SPIRIT'S  being  In,  and  fenfibly,  and  Immedl- 
"  ately  leading  them,  as  I  above  faid)  their  Opinion 
'c  may  be  collected  from  the  following  Account. 

"  At  their  firfl  fettlng  out,zs  they  ftrongly  mag- 
"  nified  and  afferted  AJfurance  In  Believers,  yea, 
"  all  Believers  ;  fo  they  themfelves  had  the  Faith 
"  of  Jfflurance,  and  were  not  in  Doubt,  in  the  leajt 

Meafure, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         207 

"  Meafure,  for  the  Space  of  a  Year  ;  Nay,  they 
"  affirm'd  it  to  be  a  Sin,  a  great  Sin,  in  any  Mea- 
fc  fure,  to  doubt  of  their  good  Eft  ate  :  And  they 
"  had  an  Affurance  (  as  they  themfelves  faid  )  of 
u  the  Salvation  of  other  Perfons. 

"  They  deny  theNeceJfity  of  human  Learning,  as 
"  a  Qualification  for  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry. 
"  If  Men  are  converted,,  that  they  think  is  fuffi- 
"  dent :  Nor  may  any  but  fuch  take  upon  them 
"  the  Buiineft  of  Preaching. 

"  They  likewife  hold,  that  none  are  converted, 
cc  but  fuch  as  conform  to  them  ;  and  therefore 
"  they  join  with  none  elfe  in  religious  Affairs. 

cc  They  us'd  to  deny  and  defpife  the  external 
"  Ordinances  of  Baptifm,  and  the  LORD's  Supper  ; 
"  though  they  pretended  a  Regard  to  them 
"  according  to  fome  fpiritual  Senfe  and  Mean- 
"  ing  :  But  of  late  they  have  fomewhat  altered 
"  their  Principles  upon  thefe  Points,  and  fay  they 
"  could  receive  the  Ordinances,  if  adminiflred  by 
"  a  CONVERTED  Man.  And  fince  the  late  Stir  in 
"  the  Country,  fome  of  them  have  faid  frequent- 
"  ly,  they  wifli'd  they  could  fee  Mr.  W— -D,  or 
"  T — T,  they  could  receive  the  Ordinances  from 
"  them. 

"  And,  as  fpiritual  Pride  feems  to  have  been 
<c  the  Ground  of  all  their  other  Errors,  fo  from 
this  Root  of  Bitternefs  has  fprung  the  vain  Pre 
tence  they  make  to  Jlnlefs  Perfection  :  For  this 
abfurd  and  wicked  Opinion  they  alfert  and  hold. 

"  They  alfo  declare  as  well  as  judge,  that  none 
of  our  Minifters  are  fit  to  preach,  or  adminfter 

«  thA 


(f 


208  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 


€C  the  Ordinances  ;  and  that  none  ought  to 
*f  them  :  They  have  likewife  an  Opinion  of 
"  our  civil  Rulers  as  not  fit  to  fet  at  the  Helm  of 
"  Government,  being  unconverted. 

"  I  muft  not  omit  obferving  to  you,  that  as 
"  feveral  of  thefe  Perfons  have,  at  Times,  re- 
"  nounced  their  Errors,  and  confefl  the  Spirit  of 
"  Detujion  they  were  under,  fo  fome  of  each  of 
«  the  three  Parties,  i.  e.  of  thofe  who  have  return- 
"  ed  to  us,  or  gone  over  to  the  Church,  or  flill  re- 
cc  tain  their  former  Spirit,  do,  to  my  Knowledge, 
"  afTert,  that  much  of  the  Spirit  that  is  produced 
"  by  the  ITINERANTS  and  their  Preaching,  is  the 
"  SAME  WITH  THEIR'S  :  And  fome  of  theftandiitg 
<f  QUAKERS,  particularly  (  for  fuch  are  the.  fmall 
"  Remnant  of  this  Seft  remaining)  will  gladly  bear 
"  fome  of  thefe  Itinerant  Preachers  ;  and  fay, 
"  they  have  the  fame  Spirit,  they  have,  but  don't  ^ 
"  know  it  ;  for  they  them/elves  did  not  know  at  firft, 
"  whither  they  <were  going. 

"  As  for  DAVID  FERRIS,  of  whom  you  defire  an 
"  Account  in  particular  ;  what  I  can  fay  is  this, 
"  viz,  That  as  he  was  one  of  the  NUMBER  arid 
"  FAMILY  that  were  ftrongly  attached  to,  and  deep- 
"  ly  ting'd  with,  the  Things  above  fpoken  of,  fo 
<f  he  had  alfo  a  ftrong  Inclination  to  attain  fome 
"  humane  Learning.  He  began  his  Grammar  with 
"  me.  —  I  had  a  great  many  Debates  with  him.  — 
"  At  length,  he  told  me,  in  fome  Heat,  that  / 
"  and  this  Church  were  fuch  Beafts  as  PAUL  fought 
cc  with  at  EPHESUS  :  Upon  which  I  difmift  him. 
(f  From  hence  he  went  to  Mr.  Moss  at  DERBY  ; 
"  but  being  uneafy  there,  went  from  thence  to 
u  MILFORD,  where  hefcatterd  fome  of  his  Errors. 
"  From  MILFORD  he  went  to  COLLEGE,  where, 

"  ic 


PART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         209 

""  it  is  laid,  he  kept  fomewhat  hid  for  a  Time  ; 
"  though  I  plainly  told  the  RECTOR  of  his  Er- 
«  rors,  and  the  Danger  of  his  poifoning  the  Stu- 
"  dents.  After  fome  Time  he  appeared  a&ive, 
"  and  with  his  plaufible  Craft,  and  infinuating  Be- 
"  haviour,  and  Bis  Books,  corrupted  and  led  away 
"  fundry  ;  efpecially,  WHELOCK,  POMROY,  BLISS, 
66  DAVENPORT,  &c« 

"  Thus,  Sir,  I  have  given,  as  you  defired,  a 
"  Succinct,  and  mort  Account  of  our  long  Affair. 
".  I  only  add,  as  to  the  Fafts,  they  are  the  Truth. 
"  No  more  at  prcfent,  but  that  I  reft  your's  &c. 

DANIEL  BOARDMAN.'J 

The  Gentleman  to  whom  this  Letter  was  fenc, 
in  his  Letter  conveying  it  to  me,  fpeaks  of  the 
Author  as  the  Minifier  of  the  Place  where  chefe 
Things  happened,  and  a  worthy,  honeft^  valuable 
Perfon  ;  and  adds,  that  he  defir'd  him  tp  write 
nothing  but  what  might  appear  in  public ,  and  be 
lieves  that  I  may,  if  Need  be,  affix  his  Name  with 
out  Offence  ;  For  which  Reafon  1  have  ventur'd 
to  do  it. 

The  Reader  will  eafily  obferve,  how  the  un- 
happy  Turn  of  Mind  that  prevail'd  at  Nsw-MiL- 
FCRD  got  into  the  College  ;  and  who  the  particu 
lar  Gentlemen  were,  that  were  led  afide  by  it  : 
Though  thefe  Things  will  more  fully  appear  in 
the  next  Letter  I  fha.ll  inlert ,  which  is  as  follows. 

"  Sir,  As  you  defir'd  me,  fome  Time  ago,  to 
"  fend  you  what  I  knew,  concerning  thofe  Evthit- 
"  fiftft*  who  were  my  Contemporaries  at  Y ALE- COL- 
"  LEGE  ;  agreable  thereto  I  have  written  what 

"  follows. DAVID  FERRIS,  one  ;,of  the  Nfiw- 

P  "  MILFOHD 


2 1  o  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI, 

"  MILFORD  Quakers,  came  to  NEW-HAVEN  in  the 
"  Year  1729,  and  was  admitted  into  College  about 
"  June,  or  July,  in  that  Year  ;     pretending  to 
"  have  forfaken  his  quakerifh  and  enthufiaftick  Te- 
"  nets  :     But  all  was  fal/e,  for  though  he  at  firft 
"  did  not  think  proper  to  own  them,  yet  he  en- 
"  deavour'd   to   lay  a   Foundation  to  propagate 
"  them,  and  infill  his  Poifon  into  all  as  far  as  he 
"  could  ;     which  he  did  by  acling  under  a  Shew 
.<<  of  Zeal  and  Sanftity,  whereby  fome  were   en- 
"  fnared  by  him,  who  have  frnce  been  the  Propa- 
«  gators  of  his  Doftrines  and  Tenets.     This  FERRIS 
"  was  the  greateft  Enthufiafi'I  ever  knew.       I 
"  believe  it  was  partly  owing  to  his  Conjtitutton, 
"  and  partly  to  his  ignorant,  fuperflitious  and  il- 
".  literate  NEW-MILFORD  Companions.     By  his  En* 
"  thufiafm  and  Superftition,  he  was  led  into  luch 
ic  wild  Errors  and  Abfurdities,  that  a  Man,  who 
"  was  guided  by  Reafon  and  Scripture^  would  be 
"  amazed  at  his  Folly  ;     for  when  he  found  his 
"  Mind  ftrorigly  engaged  in  any  Thing,  although 
"  inconnftent  with  Reafon  ar  Revelation,  yet  he 
"  would  confidently  affirm  THOSE  IMPULSES  to  be 
"  from  the  SPIRIT  OF  GOD  ;     and  that  he  could 
"  not  be  miftaken,  any  more  than  when  the  Sun 
"  fhines  and  he  fees  it,  it  may  all  be  a  Decep- 
cf  tion.     It  was  impoflible,  under  this  ftrong  Per- 
"  fwafion  of  his  being  infpir'd,  to  convince  him  ; 
"  and  it  was  to  little  Purpofe  to  reafon  with  him, 
"  for  that  internal  Light  was  his  fole  Guide  ;    and 
"  by  it  he  was  led  into  all  Manner  of  Errors. 

"  I  cannot  better  defcribe  the  Man,  than  by 
*'  relating  what  he  faid  to  me.  He  told  me,  he 
<f  was  certain,  not  one  in  ten  of  the  Communicants 
<f  in  NEW-HAVEN  Church  would  be  faved  ;  but 
"  would  go  dire  ft  h  down  to  Hell  when  they  died. 

"  He 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         211 

<f  He  faid,  it  was  a  Call  from  Heaven,  his  coming 
"  to  College  ;  that  it  was  reveal 'd  to  him,  when 
"  he  was  fick,  that  he  ihould  recover  ;  that 
"  when  he  died,  he  knew  he  ihould  have  a  higher 
"  Seat  in  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  than  MOSES,,  , 
"  which  Knowledge  was  from  the  Illumination  of 
"  GOD's  SPIRIT  ;  that  he  knew  GOD's  Will  in 
"  all  Things,  and  Hv'd  agreeable  thereto  to  that 
"  Perfection*  that  if  he  were  to  die  that  Night, 
"  he  would  not  deiire  to  have  an  Alteration  made 
"  in  one  Article  of  his  Life  for  fix  Tears,  for  he  had 
"  not  been  guilty  of  any  Sin  in  that  Time.  He 
"  was,  to  be  fhort,  filled  with  Imaginary  Revela- 
"  tions.  He  had  a  proud  and  haughty  Spirit^  and 
"  appeared  ftrongly  defirous  of  Applaufe.  He 
"  was  blind  to  his  own  Faults,  and  other  Men's 
"  Virtues  ;  but  quick  to  fpy  out  fome  Things 
"  amifs  in  his  Neighbours,  and  would  judge  and 
"  condemn  all  but  his  own  Party,  and  enthufiaf- 
"  tic  Zealots  like  himfelf.  He  would  do  all  in 
"  his  Power  to  advance  his  own  Opinions,  and 
u  lov'd  to  head  a  Party,  to  whom  he  could  dic- 
"  tate,  and  on  whom  he  could  impofe  his  Prin- 
"  ciples  as  Certainties  :  And  as  he  would  have 
"  it,  fo  it  happened  ;  for  by  hiding  himfelf  un- 
"  der  a  Cloak  of  Zeal,  fome  gloomy  Perfons  among 
"  the  Students  were  enfnared  by  him,  who  having 
"  mixed  fomething  of  Devotion  with  their  me- 
"  lancbolly  Tempers,  became  his  Admirers,  and  had 
"  his  Perfon  in  Admiration  to  that  Degree,  that 
"  they  believed  all  he  faid  to  be  true,  and  en- 
"  tertain'd  fuch  an  Opinion  of  his  Worth,  that 
"  they  drank  in  all  his  Errors  without  Examina- 
vc  tion.  His  Word  to  them  was  Demonjhatlon. 
<c  Verily,  they  feemed  to  think,  he  could  neither 
"  deceive,  nor  be  deceived.  They  endeavoured 
*'  to  imitate  him  in  all  Things  as  far  as  they  could, 
P  a  "  Miv 


212  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  Mr.  DAVENPORT,  WHELOCK,  POMROY,  and  others, 
"  were  thofe  who  liv'd  with  this  FERRIS  .moft  fa- 
"  miliarly,  and  have  fince  divulg'd  his  Errors,  and, 
"  fili'd  .Maces  where  they  have  preach'd  with  the 
"  Superjfitions  and  groundless  Opinions,  they  learn'd 
"  from  him,  who  was  their  FATHER  and  DICTA- 
"  TOR  as  to  their  Belief.  This  FERRIS  liv'd  with 
cc  us  until  March ,  1732  ;  and  then  he  returned 
"  back  to  NEW-MILFORD  to  his  old  Friends  the 
"  Quakers,  before,  and  without  ever  taking  his  Degree 
"  at  College" 

The  Gentleman  in  the  Miniftry,  thro'  whofe 
Hands,  this  Letter  came  to  me,  does  not  permit 
the  publifhing  the  Name  of  the  Writer  ;  bun  fays, 
"  The  Facts  you  may  depend  upon  as  certain.— 
"  He  was  not  only  of  the  fame  Clafs  at  College, 
"  but  boarded  and  lodged  with  FERRIS  a  conildera- 
"  ble  Time  : — And  he  may  be  believed."  —  I 
{hall  add  in  further  Confirmation  of  the  above  Ac 
count,  that,  for  Slibftance,  'tis  the  fame  with  what 
I  had  myfelf  from,  at  left,  half  a  Dozen  Gentle 
men  laft  Commencement,  when  I  ivas  at  Tale-Col 
lege.  The  Affair  indeed  is  well  known  in  CON 
NECTICUT.  But  to  thofe  not  acquainted  with  it, 
It  may  not  be  amifs  to  fubjoin  the  Narrative  ci: 
this  Matter,  as  I  penn'd  it  down  from  the  Mouth 
of  a  Gentkman  in  the  Miniftry,  of  unblemiuYd  Cha- 
rafter,  who  was  contemporary  at  College  with  Meff. 
DAVENPORT,  WHELOCK^  &c  ;  and  was  himfelf, 
in  a  Meafure,  beguil'd  by  this  FEKRIS,  and  had  the 
Honour,  at  Times,  of  making  one  of  his  religion f 
Club.  It  is  thus, 

"  DAVID  FERRIS  came  from  a  Neft  of  Quakers 
"  at  NEV/-MILFORD,  deeply  ting'd  with  their  Spi- 
u  rif .  He  made  a  great  Shew  of  Sanftity,  while  at 

"  the 

\ 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         213 

"  the  College  ;  by  Means  whereof,  he  was  under 
"  Advantage  to  propagate  his  quakerifb  Notions, 
"  and  did  do  it,  among  a  Number  of  the  Students', 
"  Mr.  POMROY,  WHELOCK,  ALLEN,  DAVENPORT, 
u  BLISS,  were  familiar  with  him,  and  led  ajide  by  him. 
"  They  made  a  Club,  and  often  met  together. 
u  They  did  not  open  their  Principles  to  all,  but 
cc  to  thofe  whom  they  imagined  they  could  work 
"  upon. — They  laid  great  Strefs  upon  Imprejfionr 
"  and  Impulfe-s  ;  particularly,  upon  any  Senfe  of 
if  Scripture  that  was  fuddenly  and  ftrongly  fugge/led 
"  to  their  Minds.— They  were  ftrangeiy  imchari- 
"  table  ;  exprelllng  tbemfelves  cenforioujly  of  moft 
*£  others  :  They  had  indeed  no  Opinion  of  any 

"  but  themfehes  on  a  religious  Account. They 

"  pleaded  for  the  SPIRIT'S  immediate,  extraordinary 
"  Guidance  in  the  Manner  'tis  now  pleaded  for  ;  and 
*  were  in  moil  Refpefts  then  as  they  have  ap- 
"  feared  Jince.  FERRIS  left  College  before  he  took 
c;  his  Degree,  profeffing  himfelf  a  Quaker  ;  and 
"  its  faid  to  be  now  a  Quaker -Preacher.1' 

But,  as  a  further  Teilimony  to  the  Truth  of 
the  Account  that  has  been  given  of  the  Corrup 
tion  of  thefe  Gentleman,  at  College,  I  mall  ftill 
•add  a  Letter  that  was  fent  from  Mr.  ALLEN, 
when  a  Student  at  College,  to  Mr.  BLISS  then  at 
a  Diflance  from  it  ;  wherein  is  difcovered  the 
very  Spirit  of  their  Father  FERRIS,  as  well  as  the 
Spirit 9  thefe  Gentlemen  have  been  remarkable  for 
in  thefe  limes.  It  was  intercepted  in  its  Progrefs, 
snd  brought  to  a  Gentleman,  who  acquainted  the 
Governors  of  the  Collect  with  it,  and  prefer ved  it, 
and  allow'd  me  to  take  a  Copy  of  it  ;  which, 
fo  far  as  the  frefent  Affair  is  concerned  in  it,  is  as 
follows, 

P  3  "  N£W-HAVFA\ 


214  Things  of  a  \u&  PART    I. 

"  NEW- HA  YEN.     July  i.  1734.  YALE  COLLEGE. 

Worthy  Sir,  I  have  of  late  been  greatly  at  a 
*'  lofs  what  I  ought  to  do,  with  Refpect  to  my 
"  tarrying  at  College  ;  being  fully  perfwaded, 
"  thac  GOD  HAS  CHOSEN  ME  FOR  HIS  :  And  I 
"  know,  my  Buflnefs  is  to  ferve  GOD.  But  here 
ic  is  the  Cafe  ;  I  have  not,  for  fome  Time  paft, 
<*  thought,  that  I  have  long  Time  allotted  me  in 
"  this  World  :  Therefore,  it  Teems  I  ought  to 
«  improve  while  I  have  Opportunity  ;  and  have 
«  been  very  much  filled  with  this  Thought,  That 
«  I  am  not  now  preparing  aright  for  any  Service  of 
"  GOD,,  but  that  all  this  Time  is  and  will  be  loft  ; 
"  for  it  famed  to  me,  that  I  ought  to  be  about  the 
^  IVor^  which  GOD  has  for  me  to  do  in  the  World, 
"  appearing  very  plain  to  me,  as  I  thought,  that  THE 

*;    SPIRIT  SHOULD    TEACH  ME   ALL  THINGS,    John  14. 

"  20,  26.  I  thought  fure,  the  Arm  of  the  LORD 
"  is  not  fhortened,  and  therefore  that  I  WANTED 
"  NOT  HUMAN  LEARNING,  in  order  to  declare  the 
"  Will  of  GOD  to  the  World,  which  I  fee  periling 
"  by  Heaps  all  around  me  ;  and  I  defire  not  to 
"  come  to  Men  with  Excellency  of  Speech  which  is 
"  of  Mans  Wifdom,  which  it  teemed  to  me  I  was 
"  heaping  up  Treafures  of.  But  I  think,  I  have 
"  found  out  to  be  contented  here,  until  GOD 
"  {hall  call  me  in  the  bed  Way  ;  and  I  am  not 
**  now  concerned  what  GOD  lhall  do  with  me. 
"  /  am  fully  perfwaded,  he  defegns  ms  to  get  Glory  td 
u  his  Name,  and  to  do  much  Service  for  him  fome- 
<»  where.  And  therefore,  feeing  I  am  defigned 
u  for  others  Good,  I  ought  to  be  at  GOD's  Dif- 
**  pofe,  who  only  knows  how  I  can  and  iliall  ef- 
'(  feft  this  Thing  ;  although  it  feems  to  me 
"  very  hard  and  grievous  to  be,  as  it  were,  under  the 
"  Harrows,  and  at  ]the  Mercy  of  evil  Men  fo  long  in 
u  this  Place,  1  think  it  may  be  beft  for  the  In- 

tereft 


PART    J.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         215 

"  terefl  of  Religion  to  tarry  here.—  What  has  very 
"  much  contributed  to  my  Comfort  lately  is,  that 
((  I  "have  found  federal  Friends  in  Town  among  the 
"  common  People,   and  fome   whom  I  long  to   have 
"  more  Opportunity  with  .....  But  whatfoever  I  do  of 

"  this  Kind,  muft  be  done  PRIVATELY  :     for   there 
"  are  thofe  who  daily  and  continually  watch  for  my 
"  Halting.  .......  Your's,  &c. 

TIMOTHY  ALLEN. 
For  Mr.  DANIEL  BLISS  at  SPRINGFIELD. 

This  TIMOTHY  ALLEN  was,  for  a  while,  the 
Paftcr  of  the  Church  at  WEST-HAVEN  ;  but  his 
old  Spirit,  reviving  and  operating  in  the  late  Times, 
in  a  Manner  too  extravagant  to  be  born  with,  his 
People  enter'd  their  Complaints  againft  him,  and 
he  was,  after  a  fair  Hearing  of  the  Cafe,  difmift 
from  them  according  to  the  Method  of  Difcipline, 
in  the  CONNECTICUT  Churches.  Among  the  many 
Articles  exhibited  againft  him,  I  (hall  fingle  out 
one  ;  arid  this  I  chufe  to  mention  lather  than 
any  other^  becaufe  it  is  fo  clearly  defcriptive.  of 
the  dangerous  Length,  this  giving  Heed  to  Impulfes, 
and  the  Notion  of  the  SPIRIT'S  immediate  extraor 
dinary  Guidance  will  carry  Men.  It  is  in  thefe 
Wor4s  of  a  Letter  from  a  Friend,  "  SIR,  at  your 
(f  Defire  I  have  look'd  into  the  Papers  on  File,  re- 
"  lating  to  Mr.  T.  A.  late  Minifter  of  WEST- 
"  HAVEN  ;  and  find  that  one  of  the  Articles 
""  charged  and  prov'd  againft  him  was,  "  that  he 
"  had  publickly  .faid,  that  the  Word  of  GOD,  as 
"  contained  in  the  old  and  new  Teftament,  is  but 
"  as  an  OLD  ALMANACK  :  For  which,  and  various 
"  other  Crimes  prov'd  againft  him,  he  continuing 
cf  obftinate,  was  deposed  by  the  Confociat'wn. 

"  Teft.  SAMUEL  WHITTELSEY.  Scribe* 


But 


2i 6  Things  of  a  ^A  PART    L 

But  leaving  this  I  lead  of  ImpuJfes,  and  immediate 
divine  Revelations,  as  the  Inftruments  in  the  late  Com 
motion  are  concerned  in  it  ;  I  proceed  to  obferve, 

That  the  fame  Things  are  become  prevalent 
among  the  common  People,  in  one  Place  arid  ano 
ther,  all  over  the  Land.  After  the  Example  of 
the  Preachers  they  admire,  they  too  commonly 
miflake  the  Motions  of  their  own  Minds  for  divine 
Suggs/lions?  and  look  for  thofe  Communications 
from- the  HOLY  SPIRIT,  which  are  proper  only  to 
INSPIRED  Perfons.  They  talk  not  of  the  SPIRIT'S 
Influence  in  the  Language  good  Chriilians  have 
been  us'd  to  ;  but  more  in  the  Strain,  of  thofe, 
who,  in  the  Apoftles  Days,  were  under  his  imme 
diate,  extraordinary  Guidance,  They  have  many. 
of  them,  a  low  Opinion  of  ftudled  Sermons,  as  not 
favouring  of  the  SPIRIT'S  Help  ;  while  they  will 
gladly  hear  any  who  will  venture  to  fpeak  to 
them  without  previous  Preparation,  whether  learned 
or  unlearned  (if  converted)  ;  imagining  they  are 
wonderfully  afiifted  by  the  SPIRIT,  as  to  Matter  as 
well  as  Manner  :  Nay,  to  fuch  a  Height  have 
many  got,  that  they  not  only  fee  Fijions  and  hear 
Voices  ;  but  are  enabled  to  fuch  a  Difcernment  of 
the  internal  State  of  others,  that,  in  a  few  Mi 
nutes,  they  will  fix  their  Character,  whether  they 
are  Minijlers,  or  People,  and  fpeak  of  them,  and 
aft  towards  them,  accordingly.  And  what  is  ftili 
of  mere  dangerous  Confequence,  the  Notions 
many  entertain  of  the  SPIRIT'S  Influence  are  fuch, 
as  reflect  great  Difhonour  on  -the  written  Word. 
Their  ExprefTrons,  on  this  Head,  have  been  ftrange- 
ly  extravagant  ;  as  we  may  have  Occafion  to  ob-. 
ferve  in  another  Place  :  And  fo  numerous  are 
the  Perfons  who  give  Heed  to  Impulfes  and  Im- 
preffions,  and  fuch  have  been  the  evil  Confequenccs 

hereof 


•  PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        217 

hereof,  that  fome  of  the  warmeft  Contenders  for 
the  good  Work,  have  been  alarmed  publickly  to 
fpeak  againft  this  Spirit. 

And  I  am  glad,  they  begin  to  fee  the  Neceflity 
of  fuch  a  Conduct.  For  this  enthufiaftical  Spirit, 
it  appears  to  me,  is  one  of  the  moft  dangerous  ones 
that  can  take  Place  in  a  Land.  'Tis  indeed  the 
true  Spirit  of  QUAKERISM  ;  the  Seed-Plat  of  Delu- 
\Jion,  and  has  all  along  been  found  to  be  fo. 

Not  that  I  would  be  tho't  to  inflnuate  a  Word 
againft  the  genuine  Operations  of  the  HOLY  SPIRIT. 
There  certainly  is  fuch  a  Thing  (if  we  may  be- 
j  lieve  the  Bible)  as  the  Chriftian's  being  led,  guid- 
ed,  taught,  anointed,  by  the  SPIRIT  :  And  this  is 
as  true  of  the  prefent  as  of  the  apoftolic  Times  ; 
though  not  in  the  fame  Senfe  :  And  the  Want 
of  Care  to  diftinguim  properly  here  has  been  the 
Occafion  of>/«/  Miflakes,  touching  the  SPIRIT* 
Influence. 

In  the  firft  Days  of  the  Gofpel,  the  dpoftles  and 
many  of  the  primitive  Chriftians  were  under  an  ex 
traordinary  Influence  from  the  SPIRIT.  They  were 
fupernaturally  help'd  to  fpeak  without  taking  Tho't 
before-hand  what  they  ihould  fay,  to  utter  them- 
felves-  in  Languages  they  did  not  underftand,  to 
cad  out  Devils,  heal  Difeafes,  and  do  many  won 
derful  Things.  But  befides  this,  there  was,  even 
in  that  Day,  another  Sort  of  Influence  from  the 
SPIRIT,  forming  Men  to  a  Refemblance  of  the  di 
vine  Being  in  moral  Holinefs,  and  fo  a  Meetnefs  for 
the  Glories  of  the  heavenly  World.  And  this  is 
that  Influence  which  is  common  to  all  Agcs^  and 
. .  may  be  expected  by  Chriftians  no-iv,  as  well  as  in 
the  firji  Times  of  the  Gofpel.  And  hereby  it  is, 

that 


si 8  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

that  Faith,  Hope,  Charity,  Meeknefs,  Humility,  and 
all  thofe  other  gracious  Difpojitions  are  wrought  in 
Men's  Hearts,  wherein  the  Image  of  GOD,  the 
Power  of  Godlinefs,  and  the  Life  of  Chrijtianity  do 
truly  corifift. 

This  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT  does  not  confift  in' 
fudden  Impulfes  and  Impreffions,  in  ^jfeons,  Revela 
tions,  extraordinary  Miffions,  and  the  like  ;  but 
in  working  in  Men  the  Preparations  for  Faith  and 
Repentance,  by  humbling  them  for  Sin,  and  {hewing 
them  the  Necejjlty  of  a  SAVIOUR  ;  then  by  effeft- 
ing  fuch  a  Change  in  them,  as  fhall  turn  them  from 
the  Power  of  Sin  and  Satan,,  and  make  them  new 
Creatures  ;  and  in  fine,  by  carrying  on  this  good 
Work -begun,  in  them,  enabling  them  to  grow  in 
Grace,  and  patiently  continue  doing  well,  'till  of 
the  Mercy  of  GOD,  thro'  CHRIST,  they  are  crown 
ed  with  eternal  Life  :  All  which  he  does  in  a 
Way  agreable  to  our  Make  as  reafonable  Creatures, 
by  his  Blefling  on  the  inflituted  Means  for  the 
Accomplifliment  of  thefe  Purpofes  of  Mercy. 

Accordingly,  the  Spirituality  of  Chriftians  does 
not  lie  in  fecret  Whiffets,  or  audible  Voices,  or  vi- 
fible  Appearances  ;  it  does  not  lie  in  the  Ufe  of 
more  fuhlime  and  fpiritual  Phrafes  than  are  com 
mon  among  fober  and  good  Chriflians  ;  it  does 
not  lie  in  immediate  Revelations  of  Men's  good  Ef- 
tat'e,  without  the  Teflimony  of  Conference  upon  thorow 
Examination,  nor  in  fuch  extraordinary  Teachings  of 
the  SPIRIT  as  fetthem  above  the  Scripture  9  or  their 
own  Endeavours,'  in  an  Attendance  on  appointed 
Means  :  I  fay,  the  Spirituality  of  Chriflians  does 
not  lie  in  fuch  Things  as  thefe  ;  but  in  their 
being  Partakers  of  a  fpiritual  Likenefs  to  the  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST^  in  Faith  ;  in  Purity  ;  in  Lowlinefs, 

and 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency. 

and  Humility  ;  in  Love  to  GOD,  and  our  Neigh 
bours  ;  in  Patience,  Meeknefs  and  Gentlenefs  ;  in 
Contempt  of  the  World,  Contentednefs  with  their 
Condition,  Refignation  to  God  ,•  and  in  a  Word, 
a  Zeal  to  honour  him,  and  do  all  the  good  they  can 
in  the  World.  This  is  the  Way  in  which  Chri- 
,flians  are  to  be  one  Spirit  with  CHRIST  ;  and  by 
this  Spirit  it  is  we  know,  that  we  dwell  in  him, 
and  he  in  us  :  And  in  this  Senfe  it  is,  if  any  are 
led  by  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  they  are  the  Sons  of 
GOD  ;  and  if  any  have  not  the  Spirit  of  CHRIST 
they  are  none  of  his.  Such,  in  whom  is  found  the 
Fruit  of  the  Spirit,  Love,  Joy,  Peace,  Long-buffering^ 
Gentlenefs,  Goodnefs,  Faith,  Meeknefs,  Temperance, 
are,  properly  fpeaking,  fpiritual  Chriftians  ;  And 
as  this  Fruit  abounds  more  or  lefs  in  them,  fo  are 
they  more  or  kfs  fpiritual.  And  this  ought  always 
to  be  the  Rule  of  Judgment  in  this  Matter. 

It  may  be  common  in  thefe  Times,  for  Chriftians 
to  think  themfelves  fpiritual,  not  fo  much  accord 
ing  to  the  fpiritual  Change  of  their  inner  Man,  in  a 
Conformity  to  the  Image  and  Will  of  CHRIST,  as 
on  Account  of  fome  fuppofed  extraordinary  Mani- 
fejlations  of  the  SPIR1 T1,  by  open  Fifion,  or  fecret 
Impulfe,  or  immediate  Perception.  But  'tis  a  dange 
rous  Thing  for  Men  to  judge  themfelves  to  be 
fpiritual  from  thefe  Things,  which  if  they  really 
experience,  they  may  not  be  at  all  the  better  Men. 
And  the  Danger  is  the  greater,  becaufe  when  they 
once  come  to  entertain  high-fawn  Notions  of  the 
SPIRIT'S  Influence,  and  expedl  to  be  immediately 
and  extraordinarily  inftrudled  by  him,  'tis  great 
Odds  but,  by  Degrees,  they  are  led  afide  into  Er 
ror  and  Delufion.  'Twould  be  no  Wonder,  if 
their  Imaginations  foon  brought  them,  into  fome 
Kind  of  Equality,  with  the  Prophets  and  dpoftles  of 

old, 


220  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

old,  and  they  ilionld  be  carried  away  with  the 
Conceit  of  GOD's  revealing  himfelf  to  them,  in 
a  Manner  not  altogether  unlike  that  of  Infpiration. 
And  if  they  iliould  now  look  down  upon  others 
with  Pity  and  Contempt,  as  Men  in  the  Dark, 
not  having  the  SPIRIT,'  to  whom  the  Things 
of  GOD  have  not  been  inwardly  revealed,  and  as 
guided  by  carnal  Reafon,  and  fiefhly  Wifdom  ; — 
it  would  be  no  other  than  might  be  expeft- 
ed.  There  are  indeedjno  Absurdities,  either 
in  Principle  or  Practice,  but  they  are  capable  of 
falling  into  them  ;  Inftances  whereof  have  been 
common  in  all  Ages  of  the  World.* 

Pertinent 


A  remarkable  Inftance  we  have  lately  had  at  NEW- 
LONDON,  in  the  horrible  Action  performed  there, 
under  the  Influence  of  Meilieurs  DAVENPORT,  and 
ALLEN  ;  a  particular  Account  whereof  was  foon 
fent  me  by  an  able  faithful  Friend,  and  has  fmce  been 
confirmed,  and  is  now  generally  known  and  ac 
knowledged  to  be  the  Truth.  It  is  in  the  following 
Words. 

"  An  Account  of  the  extraordinary  Conduct  of  the 
"  New-Lights  at  NEW-LONDON  ;  has  doubtlefs  be- 
"  fore  this  Time  reach'd  you  at  BOSTON  ;  but  having 
"  been  varioufly  reprefented,  the  following  Account 
tc  (which  may  be  depended  upon)  perhaps  may  not  be 
<c  unacceptable. 

"  The  Separates  at  NEW-LONDON  fent  a  Boat 
*c  over  toLoNG-IsLAND  to  invite  the  grand  Enthu- 
"  fiaft  D---T  over  to  Organize  their  Church,  (  as 
"  they  term'd  it  ).  He  arrived  on,or  about  the  fecond 
"  Day  of  March  :  He  was  no  fooner  come  to  Town, 
<c  than  he  began  to  rectify  fomeDiforders,he  fuppofed 
<c  were  prevailing  among  the  Children  of  God  :  He 
tc  publimed  the  Meflages  which  he  faid,  he  received 
<c  from  the  Spirit  inDreams  and  otherwife,  importing 
<{  the  great  Neceffity  of  Mortification  and  Contempt 

"of 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency. 

Pertinent  here  are  the  Words  of  the  excellent 
Mr.  FLAVEL.  Says  he,  f  "  In  the  beginning  of 
"  our  Reformation  by  LUTHER,  CALVIN  &c,  there 
"  fprung  up  a  Generation  of  Men,  call'd  SWENK- 
"  FELDIANS,  great  Pretenders  to  Revelations,  and 
"  Vijlons,  who  were  always  fpeaking  of  Deificati- 
"  ons  ;  and  an  higher  Strain  of  Language  they 
"  commonly  ufed  among  themfelves,  than  other 
"  ferious  Chriftians  underftood,  and  therefore 
"  fcornfully  entitled  orthodox  and  humble  Chri- 
"  flians,  who  ftuck  to  Scripture- Phrafe,  and  whol- 
"  fome  Form  of  found  Words,  Grammatifts,  Voca- 
bulifts,  Literalifts,  &c.  Thefe  Men  ( as  SCUL- 
TETUS  in  his  Annels\  ad  .Annum  1525^  obferves 
of  them)  were  fo  entangled  in  certain  enthufi- 
'.aflit,  Snares,  that  they  tho't  it  the  higheft  Im 
piety  to  renounce  them  :  And  they  had  be- 
fooFd  Multitudes  with  their  magnificent  Words 
of  Illumination^  Revelation,  Deification. 

"  Much 

f    His  Works,    Vol.  364,  365. 

41  of  the  World  ;  and  made  them  believe  that  they 
"  muft  putaway  from  them  everyThing  that  they  de- 
"  lighted  in,  to  avoid  the  hainous  Sin  of  Idolatry, 
*'  that  Wjgs,  Cloaks  and  Breeches,  Hoods,  Gowns, 
"  Rings,  Jewels  and  Necklaces  muft  be  all  brought 
*'  together  into  one  Heap  into  his  Chamber,  that 
"  they  might,by  his  folemn  Decree,be  committed  to 
"  the  Flames;  together  with  certain  Books  of  De- 
"  votion,  &c.  which  he  determined  to  beunfafeto  be 
"  in  the  Hands  of  the  People.  Accordingly,  they 
<c  feern'd  to  be  in  a  Strife  who  fbould  be  firit  in  this 
<c  meritorious  Action,  and  then  was  prefently  made 
"  a  Pile  of  Men's  and  Women's  Apparel  and  Orna- 
"  mentsto  which  the  grand  Director  added  a  Pair 
4t  of  Plufh  Breeches  which  he  wore  to  Town,  and 
''  which  now  he  would  greatly  want,  were  he  not 
14  confined  in  Bed  by  a  Diftemper  fpr  which  I  want 
"  a  Name.  "  The 


222  Things  of  q  ted  PART    I. 


cc 


Much  of  the  fame  Spirit  was  THOMAS  MTJNTZ- 
ER,  JOHN  of  LEYDEN,  DAVID  GEORGE,  JACOB 
"  BEHMAN,  &c  whofe  cloudy  Non-fenfe,  enigma- 
"  deal  Expreffions,  and  wilful  Obfcurity,  drew 
*'  many  into  a  ftrange  Admiration  of  them  : 
f<  They  all  pretended  to  an  higher  Knowledge  of 
"  Myfleries  than  what  the  Gofpel  is  acquainted 
cc  with  ;  and  yet  give  us,  as  Mr.  BAXTER  well 
"  obferves^t  Neither  Reafons  with  ARISTOTLE, 
"  nor  Miracles  with  CHRIST  and  his  s4poftles,  to 
"  caufe  us  to  believe  any  of  their  new  Revelations, 

-  "  Of  the  fame  Bran  were  our  late  Familifts  in 
"  ENGLAND,  of  whom  HENRY  NICHOLS  was  their 
"  chief  Leader  ;  who  decried  the  written  Word 

as 


f  His  Book  of  the  Sin  again/1  tbeHoLY GHOST.  P.  148. 
"  The  Books  which  were  committed  to  the  Flames 
<c  were  as  follows,  BEVERIDGE'S  Thoughts  on  Re- 
4tligion,  part  of  FLAVEL'S  Works,  one  piece  of  Mr. 
*' HENRY'S,  RUSSEL'S  feven  Sermons,  DYER'S 
'*  Golden  Chain,  the  Whole  Duty  of  Man,  one  piece 
"  DF.INCREASEMATHER'S,  one  of  Dr.CoLMAN's, 
*'  one  of  Dr.  SEWALL'S,  and  Dr.  CHAUNCY'S  Ser- 
<c  monagainft  Enthufiafm,  Mr.  ADAM'S  Sermons, 
"  all  that  could  be  had;  FLYNT'S  20  Sermons, 
<c  BARNARD'S, HOOPER'S,  HART'S,  SAMUEI.RUS- 
<c  SEL'S,  BECKWORTH'S,  TODD'S,SEABERRY'S  and 
i4  BLISS'S  Sermons,  with  a  Book  of  WILLIAMS  and 
<c  WADSWORTH  ;  thefe  being  called  over,  were  with 
<c  much  Noife  and  Outcry  burnt  on  the  .Town 
"  Wharf  in  the  Afternoon  of  the  Sabbath  Day, 
"  March  6th,  jutt  asPeople  were  coming  from  Meet- 
<c  ing,  who  ran  to  fee  if  Murder,  or  fome  other  Mif- 

«  cc  chief  was  not  about  to  be  done,  and  fo  were  Wit- 
<c  nefles  of  this  their  horrid  Delufion,  and  heard  them 
<£  fing  Hallelujahs  and  Gloria  Patri  over  the  Pile, 
"  and  heard  them  with  a  loud  Voice  declare,  That  the 

"  Smak 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         223 

"  as  a  dead  Letter,  and  fet  up  their  own  fond  Con- 
<f  ceits  and  Fancies,  under  the  Notion  of  the 
«  SPIRIT  ;  again  ft  whom  that  heavenly,  and 
«  learned  Man,  Mr.  SAMUEL  RUTHERFORD.,  fea- 
"  fonably  and  fuccefsfully  appear'd.  RACKET, 
"  COPINGER,  and  ARTHINGTON,  were  of  the  fame 
"  Tribe,  who  liv'd  a  while  wrapt  up  in  ANTI- 
"  NOMIAN  Fancies,  which  at  laft  break  forth  into 
"  the  highefl  and  moil  horrid  Blafphemies.  . 

Having  mentioned  thefe  Inftances  of  an  enthu- 
fiafllck  Spirit,  he  obferves  upon  them  in  the  fol 
lowing 


ik  Smzak  oj  the  torments  offucb  of  the   Authors  of  the 

"  abovefatd  B^cks,  as  died  in  the  fame  Belief  \  as  when 

;c  they  fet  them  out ,  was  now  afcending  in  Hell  in  like 

'c  Manner ,  as  they  faw  the  Smoak  of  thefe  Books  rife. 

'  The  next   Day  fundry  other    Books  (  to   me  un- 

:c  known  )  were  burnt  ;  and  theCloaths,  &c.  which 

*  were  ready  in  a  Pile  for  that  Purpofe,   would  cer- 

''*  tainly  have  been    confumed,    but  that    one  of  the 

c  Fraternity  who  Jov'd    the    World   better  than  the 

'c  reft,  and  was  more   apprehenfive  of  the  ill   Afpe£l 

c  this  Tranfadlion  would  have  on  their  Scheme  and 

>c  Party,  came  running  and  diverted  them  from  it  for 

"  that  Time. 

"  The  New- Light  Minifters  round  about  are  at  a 
"  lofs  how  to  conduct  themfelves3  and  how   to  make 

"  a  PJaifter  for  this  Sore.   

'  We  are  ready  to  hope,  that  God,  who  brings 
>c  Good  out  of  Evil,  Light  out  of  DarkneG,  and  Or- 
"  der  out  of  Confufion,  by  Means  of  thefe  extraordi- 
>c  nary  Things,  will  open  the  Eyes  of  People,  and 
<f  put  a  Stop  to  the  Growth  of  Error  and  Enthuiiafm 
"  in  this  Land. 

^N.B  the  New- Light  s>  by  a  folemn  Decree,  ordei'd 

'Mr.    PARSONS'S  wonderful  piece  (   preach'd  and 

!C  printed  at  Bojtw )  into  the  Flames  at  New- London. 


224  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I, 

lowing  Words,  cc  The  Defign  of  Satan  in  thefe 
"  Things  is,  to  gain  Credit  to  thofe  Setts,  as 
"  People  peculiarly  favoured  and  beloved  of  GOD 
"  above  others,  as  if  they  were  the  peculiar  Favour- 
"  ites  of  Heaven,  as  DANIEL  was  ,•  and  fo  to 
"  draw  the  Multitude  to  admire  their  Perfons,  and 
"  efpoufe  their  Errors. 

The  Remedies  he  has  provided  again  ft  ftich  En- 
tlntfiafm  are  thefe  three  9  with  which  i  ihall  clofe 
this  Head. 

"  i.  Whatever  Doftrine  or  Practice  feeks  Credit- 
"  to  itfelf  this  Way,  falls  juftly  thereby  underSuf. 
"  picion,  that  it  wants  a  folld  Scripture  -Foundation. 
"  GOD  hath  not  left  his  People  to  feek  Satis- 
"  faftion  in  fuch  uncertain  Ways  as  thefe  ;  but 
"  hath  given  a  furer  Word  of  Prophecy,  to  which 
they  do  well  to  take  Heed.}  He  hath  tied  us  to 
the  ftanding  Rule  of  the  Word,  forbidding  us  to 
give  Heed  to  any  other  VOICE,  or  SPIRIT,  lead' 
"  ing  us  another  Way.*  Serif  lure  -Light  is  a  fafe 
"  and  fure  Light,  a  pleafant  and  fufficient  Light. 
"  .  The  Scripture  (faith  LUTHER)  is  fo  full,  that  as 
u  for  fffions  and  Revelations,  nee  euro,  ncc  dejidero, 
<•  I  neither  regard,  nor  defire  them-  And  when 
<(  he  himfelf  had  a  Fifion  of  CHRIST,  after  a  Day 
<f  of  Falling  and  Prayer,  he  cried  out,  Avoid  Sa*( 
"  tan,  I  know  no  Image  of  CHRIST,  but  the  Scrip- 
"  ture.  An  hankering  Mind  after  thefe  Things, 
<c  fpeaks  a  Jickly  and  dlftem-pered  State  of  Soul  ; 
"  as  longing  after  Trafh  in  young  diftempered  Per- 
"  fons,  doth  a  diftempered  State,  or  ill  Habit  of 
«  Body. 

f  2  Pet.  2.  19.     *  Ifa.  8.  19.    2  Thef.  2.  i,  2. 
Gal.  i.  8. 

2.  Confider, 


cc 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency,         225 

2.  "  Confider^  how  often  the  World  hath  been 
i€  abufed  by  the  Tricks  and  Cheats  of  that  officious 
(i  Spirit,  the  Devil,  in  fuch  Ways  as  thefe.  What 
"  hath  propagated  Idolatry    among  Heathens  and 
"  Chriftians  more  than  this  ?  //me  fluxerent  mult  a 
"  Perigrinatlones,  Monafleria,    delubra,  dies  fefti,  et 
"  alia,  faith  LAVATER,  in  Job   33.       Pilgrimage s9 
fc  Monafleriesi   Shrines  of  Saints,   Holy-Days,  &c, 
"  have  been  introduced  by  this  Trick.     'Twere 
"  endlefs  to  give  Inftances  of  it  in  the  Hiflories 
"  of  former  Ages.* 

3.  <c  Confider,  how  difficult,  yea,  and  inipofli- 
*'  bie  it  is  for  a  Man  to  determine^  that  fuch  a 
"  Voice,  Fifion^   or  Revelation  $    is  of  GOD,  and 

•  *e  that  Satan  cannot  feign  or  counterfeit  it,  feeing 

;  "  he  hath  left  no  certain  Marks  by  which  we  may 

:  "  diftinguifli  one  Spirit  from  another.       Sure  we 

;  cc  are,  Satan  can  transform  himfelf  into  an  Angel  of 

"  Light.     And  therefore  abandoning  all  thofe  «». 

cs  /?/<?  and   uncertain  Ways,   whereby    Swarms  of 

"  .Error?  have  been  conveyed  into  the  World,  leer 

us 


Of  the  Prophecies,  Fifions,  and  pretended  Infpirati* 
ons,  of  STORKE,  PFEIFFERJ  BECOLD,  WAREN- 
DORP,  &c.  with  the  Efficacy  of  them,  On  the  delud* 
ed  People^  and  the  fatal  Conferences^  both  to  the 
deceived  and  Deceivers  ;  See  Mr.  SAMUEL  RU 
TH  E  R  F  u  R  D  of  the  fpiritual  Anticbrift.  See  alfo  the 
Gofpel  Way  confirmed  by  Miracles^  pablifhed  in  the 
Year  1649  '>  where  you  will  find  the  free  Confeffion 
of  ANN  WELLS,  MATTHEW  HALL,  &c.  deluding 
the  People  of  WHATFIELD,  in  SUFFOLK,  with 
fuch  pretended  Voices^  Fifions,  Prophecies,  and  Rgvt- 
Jations,  the  like  to  which  have  been  fcarcely  heard  of 
in  ENGLAND,  fince  the  Reformation.  Multitude 
were  deluded  by  them. 


226  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I; 

"  us  cleave  infeparably  to  the  clear  Word  of  Pro-, 
"  phecy,  the  Rule  and  Standard  of  our  Faitb  and 
«  Duty." 

Another  Thing  that  very  much  tends,  as  I  ap« 
prehend,  to  do  Hurt  to  the  Intereft  of  Religion, 
is  the  Rife  of  fo  many  Exhorters.     A  Stranger  t< 
this  Land,  and  the  prefent  Appearance  in  it,  ma; 
be  at  a  Lofs  to  know,  who  are  meant  by  the] 
Exhorters :     And  I'm  really  amam'd  to  fay,   that 
the  Pcrfons  pointed  out   by  them,    are  Men 
all  Occupations,   who    are  vain  enough    to   thin] 
themfelves  fit  to  be  Teachers  of  others   ;     Mei 
who,  though  they  have  no  Learning,  and  butfmall 
Capacities,  yet  imagine  they  are  able,  and  without 
Study  too,  to  fpeak  to  the  fpirituaf  Profit  of  fuel 
as  are  willing  to  hear  them  :     Nay,  there  are  a- 
mong  thefe  Exhorters,  Babes  in  Age,  as  well 
Underilanding.     They  are    chiefly   indeed   youni. 
Perfons,  fometimes  Lads,  or  rather  Boys  :     Nay 
Women  and  Girls  ;     yea,  Negroes,  have  taken  up 
on  them  to  do  theBuilnefs  of  Preachers.     Nor  has 
this  been  accidental  only,  or  in  a  fingle  Place,  or 
at  a  private  Houfe  ;     but  there  is  fcarce  a  Town 
in  all  the  Provinces,  where  this   Appearance  has 
been,  but  there  have  been  alfo  thefe  Exhorters,  in 
fmaller  or  greater  Numbers :     Neither  have  they 
contented  themfelves  to  fpeak  in  the  more  private 
Meetings   of  Chriftians,    but   have  held   forth  in 
the  pub  lick   Congregations. 

This  has  lately  been,  and  flill  is,  the  State  of 
Things  in  the  Land,  upon  this  Head.  And  how 
ever  fome  may  have  a  good  Opinion  of  the  Ex 
hortations  of  thefe  Perfons,  and  encourage  them  in 
this  Bra6tice,  'tis  certainly  a  very  bad  one,^  and 
portends  Evil  to  thefe  Churches. 

The 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.        227 

The  Apojlollck  Canons,  forbidding  Women  to 
fpeak  in  the  Church,  are  fo  peremptory,  that  not 
a  Word  can  be  faid  in  Favour  of  their  Exhortati 
ons  We  mult  give  up  all  Pretence  to  the  Scrip- 
jure  as  our  Rule,  if  we  may  depart  from  it  in  a 
Cafe,  wherein  the  Mind  of  CHRIST  has  been,  in 
fo  exprefs  a  Manner,  made  known  to  us.  Read 
i  Cor.  14.  34,  35,  and  i  Tim.  2.  n,  12  ;  and 
then  fay,  whether  their  fpeaking  in  the  Houfe  of 
GOD,  can  be  reconciled  with  thefe  pofitive  In- 
junctions  to  the  contrary. 

And  as  to  others,  who  abide  not  in  their  own  Call 
ing,  but  take  upon  them  the  Bufmefi  that  is  af- 
figrid  to  others,  they  throw  the  Body  of  CHRIST 
into  great  Diforder.     For  as  in  the 'Body  natural 
there    are   various  Members,    adapted     to   vari 
ous  Ufes  ;     fo  'tis  in  the  myftical  Body  of  CHRIST. 
All  are  not  Apoftles,  and  Prophets ',  and  Teachers  ; 
And  if  thofe  who  fuftain  the  Place  of  one  Mem 
ber,  will  take  upon  them  to  aft  the  Part  that  is 
proper  to  another,  what  may  be   expe£ted   but 
Confufion  ?— -  But  having  largely  -e^preft   my 
Thoughts  upon  this  Head,  in  fbme  late  Sermons 
that  have  been  made  public,  inflead 'of  'repeating 
what  I  have  already  faid,  or  offering  any  Thing 
further  of  my  own,  I  mall  tranfcribe  w*haf  fome  0- 
j  thers  have  delivered  to  the  World,  whofe  Names, 
I  know,  are  held,  and  juftly  too,  in  great  Venera 
tion  in  thefe  Churches. 

The  excellent  Mr.  GURNALL,  in  explaining  what 
it  is  for  Chriltians  to  ftand,  among  other  Particu- 
~ws,  mentions  this,*  "  To  ft  and  orderly,  it  is  re- 

quifite  that  we  keep  the  Bounds  of  our  Place 

*  See  his  Difcourfes  upon  Eph.  6.  14.  Page  4. 

<>  2  and 


228  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 


<u 


tc 


and  Calling.— GOD  allows  no  Stragglers  from 
"  their  Station  in  his  Army  of  Saints.   As  the  LORD 
"  hath  called  every  Man,  fo  let  him  walk,  i  Cor,  7. 
"  17.     Our  Walk  muft  be  in   that  Path  which 
kc  our   Call  beats  out.      We  are  therefore  com- 
"  manded  every  one  to  do  his  own  Bufinefs,  i  Thef. 
"  4.  ii..  'That  which  is  the  'Commander  s  Bufinefs 
in  an  Army,  is  not  the  private  Soldier  s',     the 
Magiftrate's,  not  the  Subject's  ;  the  Minifter's, 
"  not  the  People's.     That  which  is  Juft4ce  in  the 
"  Ruler,  is  Murder  in  another.    There  are  our  own 
"  Things,  that  come  within  the  Compafs  of  our 
<e  general  or  particular  Calling  :     Out  of  thefe  we 
"  are  out  of  our  Diocefs.     O  what  a  quiet  World 
"  fhould  we  have,   if  every  Thing  and  Perfon 
"  knew  his  own  Place  !     If  the  Sea  kept  its  own 
"  Place,,  we  Ihould  have  no  Inundation  ;     if  Men 
"  had  kept  theirs,  we  ihould  neither  have  feen 
"  fuch  Floods,  of  Sin,  nor  Miferies,  as  this  unhappy 
"  Age  hqs  been  almoft  drowned  with.     But  it  muft 
"  be  a  ftrong  Bank  indeed  that  can  contain  our 
"  fluid  Spirits  within  our  own  Terms.     PETER  him- 
"  felf,  .was'  iliarply  chid,  for  prying,  out  of  a  Cu- 
"  riofity,    into   that  which  concerned  him  not. 
"  What  is  that  to  thce  ?      John  21.    22.     As  if 
"  CHRIST  had  faid,  PETER,   meddle  with  thy  own 
"  Mattersy'$his^  concerns  not  thee  :     Which  fliarp 
"  Rebuke,  fays  one,  might  poffibly  make  PETER 
"  afterwards  give  fo  ftricl:  a  Charge  againft,  and 
u  fet  fo  black  a  Brand  upon,  this  very  Sin,  as  you 
"  may  find,  i  Pet.  4.  15,  where  he  ranks  the  J?«- 
"  fa-Body  among  Murderers  and  Thieves." 

And  among  the  Confederations,  which  this  pious 
Divine  propofcs  as  of  Weight,  in  order  to  fix  e- 
very  one  in  his  Place,  this  is  one,*  "  That  it  is 

*  The  fame  Difcourfes,  P.  5.  6,  art 


PART    L       -and  dangerous  Tendency. 

"  an  erratic  Spirit  that  ufually  carries  Men  out  of 
"  their  Place  and  Calling.  I  confefs  (fays  he)  there 
"  is  an  Heroicus  Impetus ,  an  Impulfe,  which  fome 
"  of  the  Servants  of  GOD  have  had  from  Heaven, 
"  to  do  Things  extraordinary,  as  we  read  in  Scrip- 
"  ture  of  MOSES,  GIDEON,  PHINEHAS,  and  others. 
"  But  it  is  dangerous  to  pretend  to  the  like,  and 
"  unlawful  to  expe6l  fuch  immediate  Commiflionf 
"  from  Heaven  now,  when  he  iflueth  them  out  iii 
"  a  more  ordinary  Way,  and  gives  Rules  for  the 
"  fame  in  his  Word.  We  may  as  well  expe6l  to 
"  be  taught  extraordinarily,  without  ufing  the  ordi- 
"  nary  Means,  as  to  be  called  fo.  When  I  fee  any 
"  miraciiloufly  gifted,  as  the  Prophets  and  Apoftles> 
"  then  I  ihall  think  the  immediate  Calling  they 
"  pretend  to  is  authentic.  To  be  fure,  we  find 
"  in  the  Word,  extraordinary  Calling,  and  extraor- 
"  dinary  Teaching,  go  together.  Well,  let  us  fee 
"  what  that  erratic  Spirit  is,  which  carries  many 
"  out  of  their  'Place  and  Calling.  It  is  not  always 
"  the  fame  ;  fometimes  its  Idlenefs.  Firft,  Men 
"  negleft  what  they  floould  do,  and  then  are  eafily 
"  perfwaded  to  meddle  with  what  they  have  no- 
"  thing  to  do.  The  Apojlle-  intimates  this  plainly, 
"  i  Tim.  5.  13.  They  learn  to  be  idle,  wandring 
"  from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  and  not  only  idle,  but  Bujie- 
"  Bodies.  An  idle  Perfon  is  a  Gadder  ;  he  hath 
"  his  Foot  on  the  Threfhold,  eafily  drawn  from 
"  his  own  Place,  and  as  foon  into  another's  Diocefs, 
"  He  is  at  Leifure  to  hear  the  Devil's  Chat.  He 
"  that  will  not  ferve  GOD  in  his  own  Place,  the 
"  Devil,  rather  than  he  fliall  ftand  out,  will  fend 
<s  him  on  his  Errand,  and  get  him  to  put  his  Sic- 
tc  kle  into  another's  Corn.  Secondly,  Its  Pride  and 
"  Difcontent  that  makes  Perfons  go  out  of  their 
"  Place.  Some  Men  are  in  this  very  unhappy, 
w  their  Spirits  are  too  big  ^nd  haugnty  for  the 
3  "  Plan 


4C 


230  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  Place  GOD  hath  fet  them  in.     Their  Calling, 
<c  may  be,  is  mean  and  low,  but  their  Spirits  high 
"  and  towring  ;     and  whereas  they  mould  labour 
"  to  bring  their  Hearts  to  their  Condition,  they 
"  projecl  how  they  may  bring  their  Condition  to 
"  their  proud  Hearts.     They  think  themfelves 
"  very  unhappy,  while  they  are  mut  up  in  fuch 
*c  flraight  Limits.     Shall  they  be  hid  in  a  Croud, 
<f  lie  in  an  obfcure  Corner,  and  die  before  they 
<c  let  the  World  know  their  Worth  ?     No,  they 
can't  brook  it  ;     and  therefore  they  mufl  get 
on  the   Stage,  and  put  forth  themfelves  one 
Way  or  other.     It  was  not  the  Priefts  Work, 
that  COR  AII  and  his  Complices  were  to  in  Love 
with,  but  the  PriejTs  Honour  which  attended  the 
Work  :     This  they  defir'd  to  fhare,  and  liked 
f  not  to  fee  others  run  away  with  it  from  them  : 
Nor  was  it  the  Zeal  which  ABSALOM  had  to  do 
'  Jlifiice>  which  made  his  Teeth  water  fo  after 
"  his  Father  s  Crown,  though  this  mufl  filver  over 
<  his  Ambition.    Thefe  Places  of  Church  and  State 
<c  are  fuch  fair  Flowers,  that  proud  Spirits,  in  all 
<f  Ages,  have  been  ambitious  to  have  them  fet  in 
*'  their  own  Garden  ;     though  they  never  thrive 
"  fo  well  as  in  their  proper  Soil.     In  a  third,  'tis 
*tf  Unbelief.     This  made  UZZAH  ftretch  forth  his 
"  Hand  unadvifedly  to  flay  the  Ark  that  fnook, 
"  which,  being  not  aLevite,he  was  not  to  touch. 
"  Alas  !  good  Man,  it  was  his  Faith  iliook  more 
('  dangeroufly  than  the  Ark  :  By  fearing  the  Fall 
"  of  this,  he  fell  to  the  Ground  himfelf.     GOD 
"  needs  not  our  Sin  to  ihoar  up  his  Glory,  Truth, 
"  or  Church.     Laftly,   in  fome  it   is  mi/informed 
"  Zeal.     Many  think  they  may  do  a  Thing,  be- 
«  caufe  they  can  doit.     They  can  preach,  and  fo 
"  they  may.     Wherefore  elfe  have  they  Gifts  ? 
tc  Cercainly  the  Gifts  of  the  Saints  need  not  be 

"  loft, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        231 

"  loft,  any  of  them  ;  though  they  be  not  laid 
"  out  in  the  Minified s  Work.  The  private  Chri- 
"  fllan  hath  a  large  Field,  wherein  he  may  be 
"  ferviceable  to  his  Brethren.  He  need  not  break 
"  the  Hedge  GOD  hath  fet,  and  thereby  occafi- 
"  on  fuch  Diforders  as  we  fee  to  be  the  Confe- 
"  quence  of  this.  We  read,  in  the  Jewifb  Law, 
"  Exod.  22,  that  he  who  fet  a  Hedge  on  Fire, 
"  and  that  Fire  burnt  the  Corn  Handing  in  the 
'*  Field,  was  to  make  Reftitution,  though  he  only 
"  fired  the  Hedge  (may  be  not  intending  to  hurt 
"  the  Corn)  ;  and  the  Reafon  was,  becaufe  his 
"  firing  the  Hedge  was  the  Occafion  of  the 
"  Corn's  being  burnt,  though  he  meant  it  not.  I 
"  dare  not  fay,  that  every  private  Cbnflian,  who 
"  hath,  in  thefe  Times,  taken  upon  him  the  M- 
"  nifter's  Work,  did  intend  to  make  fuch  a  Com- 
"  buftion  in  the  Church,  as 'hath  been,  and  Jlill  fad- 
"  ly  is  among  us.  (  GOD  forbid  I  !fhould  think 
«  fo  !)  But  O  that  I  could  clear  them  from  be- 
"  ing  accejjary  to  it,  in  that  they  have  fired  the 
«  Hedge  which  GOD  hath  fet  between  the  Miniflcrs 
"  Calling  and  their  s.  If  we  will  acknowledge  the 
"  Miniftry  a  particular  Office  in  the  Church  of 
"  CHRIST  (  and  this  I  think  the  Word  will  com- 
"  pel  us  to  do )  then  we  mult  alfo  confefs,  it  is 
"  not  any  one's  Work,  though  never  fo  able,  ex- 
«  cept  called  to  the  Office." 

The  next  Author  1  would  trail fcribe  from,  is 
holy  "Mr.  FLAVEL  ;  and  the  rather,  becaufe  he 
has  largely  and  clearly  expreft  himfelf  upon  this 
Head.  Among  the  r.ioji  fuccefsful  Methods  us'd  by 
falfe  Teachers  to  draw  Multitudes  of  Difdples  after: 
them,  one  that  he  particularly  mentions  is,| "  Their 

f  His  Works,  Vol.  j.  Page  633,  634. 

(    4  granting 


232  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

<*  granting  to  the  ignorant  and  ambitious  among 
v-  them  the  Liberty  of  Prophefying  ;  the  flattering 
<c  them  into  a  Conceit  of  their  excellent  Gifts, 
"  anc]  Attainments,  when  (as  he  fays)  GOD  knows, 
*'  they  had  more  Need  to  be  catechifed,  and  taught 
*'  the  Principles  of  Chriflianity,  than  undertake 
"  to  expound  and  apply  thofe  profound  Myfte- 
1(  rie.s  to  others. 

"  Satan  (he  goes  on)  hath  filled  the  Church 
"  and  World  with  Errors  and  Troubles  this  Way. 
^  When  ignorant  and  unexperienced  Perfons  begin 
"  to  think  it  a  low  and  dull  Thing  to  fit,  from 
"  Year  to  Year,  under  other  Men's  Teachings, 
"  and  fo  fancy  that  they  are  wifer  than  their 
f  Teachers,  their  Pride  will  quickly  tempt  them 
^  to  {hew  their  Ignorance  ;  and  that  mifchei-ious 
"  Ignorance  will  prove  dangerous  to  the  Truth 9  and 
"  troubkfome  to  the  Churches.  The  Apojlk  forbids 
"  the  Ordination  of  a  Novice,  left  he  be  puffed  up, 
*'  and  fall  into  the  Condemnation  of  the  Devil.  And 
"  in  i  Tim.  i.  7.  he  {hews  us  the  Reafon,  why 
**  fome  fwerved  and  turned  afide  unto  vain  Jang- 
"  ling  ;  and  it  was  this,  that  they  defired  to  be 
"  Teachers  of  the  Law,  neither  under jlanding  what 
*'  they  faid,  nor  whereof  they  affirmed.  That  is, 
^  they  affefted  to  be  Preachers -,  tho*  not  able  to 
^  fpeak  congruoujly,  with  tolerable  Senfe  and  Reafon. 

*'  I  do  not  here  cenfure  and  condemn  the  Ufe 
f  and  Exercife  of  the  Gifts  of  all  private  Chriftians-. 
?'•  There  are  to  be  found  among  them  fome  Perfons 
"  of  RAISED  PARTS,  and  ANSWERABLE  MODESTY  AND 
*'  HUMILITY,  who  may  be  very  ufeful,  when  CALL- 
i*  ED  to  Service,  in  EXTRAORDINARY  CASES,  by  the 
"  Voice  of  Providence  ;  or  exercife  their  Gifts 
V  in  a  probationary  If  ay,  or  in  DUE  SUBORDINATION 

"  unto 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         233 

*<  unto  CHRIST'S  publick  Offices,  and  Ordinances, 
"  by  and  with  the  Confent  of  the  PASTOR,  and  Con- 
"  gregation, 

ft  But  when  unqualified  and  uncalled  Perfons  un- 
^  dertake  fuch  a  Work,  out  of  the  Conceit  or 
"  Pride  of  their  Hearts,  or  are  allur'd  to  it  by  the 
"  crafty  Defign  of  erroneous  Teachers,  partly  to  0- 
*'  vert  brow  a  publick,  regular,  and  Jlanding  Mini/try 
"  in  the  Churches,  to  which  End  the  Scriptures  are 
<e  manifeflly  abufed,  fuch  as  Jer.  31.  34.  Rom. 
tc  12.  6.  i  Cor.  14.  i  Pet.  4,  10.  with  many 
"  others  ;  this  is  the  Pra6tice  I  here  cenfure, 
"  which,  like  zTrojanHorfe,  hath  fent  forth  Multi- 
^  tudes  of  erroneous  Perfons  into  the  City  of  GOD,  to 
P  infejl  and  defile  it. 

"  I  cannot  doubt,  but  many  a  fincere  Chriftian 
ff  may  be  drawn  into  fuch  Employment,  which 
"  puts  him  in  a  Capacity  of  honouring  GOD  in 
(t  a  more  eminent  Way,  which  is  a  Thing  defira- 
^  ble  to  an  honeft  and  zealous  Heart ;  and  that  the 
<c  Temptation  may  be  greatly  flrengthened  upon 
f  them,  by  the  piaufible  Suggejlions  of  cunning  Se- 
"  ducers,  who  tell  them,  that  tbofe  Minifters  who 
"  oppofe  and  condemn  this  Practice,  do  it  as  Men 
"  concerned  for  their  own  Inter  eft,  %s  defirous  to 
*'  monopolize  the  Work  to  themfelves,  and  as  envying 
*<  the  LORD's  People  ;  and  that  CHRIST  hath 
"  given  them  greater  Liberty  in  this  Cafe,  than 
"  thofe  Men  win  allow  them.  By  this  Means  they 
<c  draw  many  after  them,  and  fix  them  in  their 
"  err  onions  Ways. 

<c  I  have  no  Mind  at  all  here,  to  expofe  the 
*?  Follies  and  Mifchiefs  introduced  this  Way  ;  as 
'*  neither  being  willing  to  grieve  the  Hearts  of 

the 


234  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

"  the  Sincere  on  one  Side,  nor  gratify  fcoffing  A- 
"  theifts,  and  profane  Enemies  to  Religion,  on 
"  the  other  Side  :  Only,  this  I  will,  and  muft  fay, 
"  that  by  this  Means  the  facred  Scriptures  are  moft 
"  injuriaufly  wrefted,  the  Peace  and  Order  of  the  Church 
•c  difturbed,  and  a  great  many  Miftakes  and  Errors 


The  Remedies,  he  prefcribes  for  the  Cure  of  this 
Evil,  are  thefe  that  follow, 

"  i.  Let  all  that  encourage  others,  or  under- 
•"  take  by  others  Encouragement,  fuch  a  Work 
"  as  this,  for  which  they  are  not  competently  qua- 
"  lifted,  and  unto  which  they  are  not  regularly  call- 
"  cd,  confider  ferioufly  with  themfelves,  what  Dan- 
u  ger  they  cafl  their  own  and  other  Men's  Souls 
"  upon.  The  Apoflle  tells  us,  2  Pet.  3.  16.  That 
"  the  unlearned  and  itnftable  do  wreft  the  Scriptures 
"  to  their  own  Deftruttion.  Danger  enough,  one 
*'  would  think,  to  fcare  them,  from  it,  did  not  the 
<c  fame  Sin  of  Ignorance,  which  makes  them  weft 
"  the  Scriptures,  caufe  them  alfo  to  flight  and  over- 
"  look  the  Danger  of  fo  doing.  Certainly,  my 
"  Friends,  it  is  a  great  deal  fafer,  and  more  ex- 
"  cufable,  to  put  an  ignorant  Rujlick  into  an  Apo- 
"  thecary'sShop  to  compound  a  Medicine  of  Drugs 
"  and  Spirits,  which  he  under  (lands  not,  and  con- 
"  fidently  adminifler  the  fame  to  the  Bodies  of  *. 
<e  Men,  than  for  fuch  Perfons  as  are  led  by  Ig- 
*'  norance  and  Confidence,  to  intermeddle  with  the 
"  mmifterial  Employment.  The  one,  perhaps,  by 
cc  Miilake,  may  poifon  Men's  Bodies  ;  but  the 
"  other  their  Souls.  An  ignorant  Pilot  or  Mafter> 
'*  that  never  learned  the  Compafs,  are  rather  to 
"  be  trufled,  among  Rocks  and  Quick-Sands, 

'  •«  than 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         235 

u  than  a  proud,  ignorant  Perfon  with  the  Condu6l 
«  of  Souls. 


" 


2.  What  daring  Prefumption  is  it  to  intrude 
"  ourfelves  into  fo  great  and  weighty  an  Employ- 
"  ment,  without  any  Call  or  Warrant  of  CHRIST"? 
"  Rom.  10.  14.  If  every  Phaeton,  that  thinks 
"  himfelf  able,  fhall  undertake  to  drive  the  Cha- 
*'  riot  of  the  Sun,  no  Wonder  if  the  World  be  fet 
"  on  Fire.  Gifts,  and  Abilities  of  Mind,  are  not 
"  of  themfelves  fufficient  to  make  a  Preacher. 
"  Some  Lawyers  at  the  Ear  may  be  as  skilful  as 
"  the  Judge  upon  the  Bench  ;  but  without  a 
"  Commiffion  they  dare  not  fit  there. 

"  3.  The  Honour  you  affect,  to  vent  your  un- 
"  found  Notions  with  Liberty,  is,  in  Scripture- 
"  Account,  your  greateji  Difhonour.  The  Scripture 
"  reckons  falfe  Teachers  among  the  bafefl  of  the 
"  People.  The  Prophet  that  teacheth  Lies,  he  is  the 
"  Tail.  i.  e.  the  bafefl  Part  of  the  whole  Body 
"  of  the  People,  Ifa.  9.  15.  And  fo  far  is  due 
"  Gofpel- Liberty  from  countenancing  fuch  danger 
ous  Irregularities,  that  we  find  in  a  clear  Prophe 
cy  of  Gofpel- Times,  what  Shame  GOD  will 
pour  upon  them.  Zech.  13.  4,  5.  They  /ball 
be  brought  'with  Shame  enough  to  confefs,  I  am  no 
Prophet,  I  am  no  Husbandman,  or  Man  taught  to 
keep  Cattle  from  my  Touth. 

"  4.  How  much  more  fafe,  regular,  and  advan- 
ts  tageous  were  it  for  fuch  as  you,  to  fill  your  own 
"  proper  Places,  under  able  and  faithful  Gofpel- 
"  Mintfters,  and  to  fuck  the  Breafls  of  fruitful  Or- 
"  dinances,  than  to  confume  and  pine  away  by 
46  fucking  your  own  Breafls  ?  I  mean,  living  upon 

a  your 


a 
«. 
cc 
cc 

cc 

(C 


236  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

cc  your  own  weak  and  insufficient  Gifts,  in  the  fin* 
"  ful  Negleft  of  CHRIST'S  Anointments  ?" 

Worthy  alfo  of  a  Place  here  are  the  Words  of 
the  famous  Mr.  BOLTON  ;  and  the  rather,  as  they 
are  admirably  defcriptive  of  fome  of  the  Exhorters 
of  the  prefent  Day.*  "  Others  there  are  (fays 
"  he  )  who  may  gloriouily  pretend,  and  proteft 
"  with  great  Bravery  and  Confidence,  their  At 
"  fent  and  Affiflance  to  the  beft  and  holiefl  Cour- 
cc  fes  ;  put  on  a  temporary  counterfeit  Profeffi- 
"  on,  and  fafliionable  Conformity  to  the  Commu- 
"  nion  of  Saints,  that  thereby  they  may  pafs 
•'  more  fairly  and  plaufibly,  out  of  one  Calling  in- 
<-  to  another  ;  from  a  bafer,  lower,  more  neg- 
"  lefted,  and  toilfome  Trade,  into  fome  other  of 
«  more  Liberty,  Acceptation  and  Eafe  :  Or  elfe 
*<  break  out  of  all  Callings  ;  and  fo,  by  the  un- 
"  hallowed  Myjlery  of  a  f  acred  Cozening,  if  I  may 
"  fo  call  it,  live  upon  their  Profejfion  ;  and  by  a- 
^  bufing  the  tender  Consciences  of  i^eak  Chriftjans, 
"  with  the  controullng  and  countermanding  Tyran- 
{i  nies,  as  it  were,  of  an  affefted,  furious  Zeal,  fuck 
"  out  of  them  no  fmall  Advantage^  and  prey  too  plen- 
«  tif  idly  upon  the  People  of  GOD.  Such  as  thefe 
"  are  ready  to  pretend,  and  intimate,  that  fuch 
«c  bafe,  earthly,  and  worldly  .Employment,  and 
<<  fpending  of  their  Time,  is  difgraceful,  and  de- 
«  rogatory  to  the  Providence  of  GOD,  and  their 
«  Chrijlian  Liberty  ;  that  with  unworthy  Detain- 
«  ments,  and  Avocations,  it  interrupts  them  in 
<c  the  Purfuit  of  their  general  Calling  ;  difable.s 
"  and  hinders  them  in  Difcharge  of  holy  Duties. 


His  general  Directions  for  a  comfortabfy 
with  COD,  P.  48,  49.  . 

But: 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         237 

«  But  let  them  know,  that  Chnjlianity,  if  found  and 
"  true,  doth  not  nullify,  but  fahftify  our  particular 
"  Callings.  Thou  oughteft  to  continue  with  Con- 
«  fcionablenefs  and  Conflancy  in  that  perfona!  Call- 
"  ing,  where  thy  Calling  to  Grace  did  find  thee,  if 
"  it  be  warrantable  and  lawful."  He  proceeds  in 
the  next  Paragraph, 

"  If  any  Man  then,  upon  giving  up  his  Name 
"  to  Religion,  (hall  grow  into  Negleft,  Diftafte, 
"  or  Dereliction  of  his  honed  particular  Calling  ; 
"  we  may  ever  Jlrongly  fufpett  him  of  Hollownefs 
and  Hypocrify.  It  is  the  confident  Conclufton  of  a 
very  learned  and  holy  Divine,  *  "  Though  a 
Man  be  endued  with  excellent  Gifts,  and  be  a- 
ble  to  fpeak  well,  conceive  Prayer,  &c.  with 
fome  Reverence  to  hear  the  Word,  and  receive 
the  Sacraments  ;  yet,  if  he  pra6Hce  not  the 
Duties  of  Godlinefs  within  his  own  Calling,  all 
"  is  but  Hypocrify."  And  a  little  onwards,  "  A 
"  true  Convert  therefore  is  fo  far  from  calling  off 
"  his  perfonal  Calling,  that  after  his  calling  to  Cbri- 
(<-  ftianity,  he  is  won't  to  difcharge  the  Duties 
'•  thereof  with  far  more  Care  and  Conference,  tho' 
"  with  a  better  Mind,  more  moderate  Affeftions, 
«  and  for  a  bleffeder  End.11 

I  cannot  break  off  more  pertinently  than  in  the 
Words  of  Mr.  BAXTER,  which  I  can  heartily  re 
commend,  as  containing  the  very  Advice  I  would 
give  at  this  Day.  f  "  dffbciation,  fays  he,  breed- 
u  eth  Familiarity  ;  and  Familiarity  breedeth  Love  ; 
"  and  Familiarity  and  Love  to  the  Godly  doth 


PERKINS  of  Callings,  P.  734.      f  His  Works, 
Vol.  3.  Page  203. 

"  lead 


238  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I..- 

(C  lead  to  Familiarity  and  Love  to  GOD  and  God-- 
"  linefs.  Ufe  therefore  often  to  meet  together,  be- 
"  fides  the  more  publick  Meeting  in  the  Congrega- 
"  tion  ;  not  to  vent  any  unfound  Opinions,  nor  yet 
"  in  Dlflajte  of  the  publick  Meeting,  nor  in  Oppofi- 
tf  tion  to  it,  nor  at  the  Time  of  publick  Worfhip  ; 
"  not  yet  to  make  a  groundless  Schifm,  or  tofepa- 
u  rate  from  the  Church  whereof  you  are  Members  ; 
"  nor  to  deflroy  the  old,  that  you  may  gather  a 
cc  new  Church  out  of  its  Ruins,  as  long  as  it  hath 
"  the  EJJentials,  and  there  is  Hope  of  reforming 
"  it  ;  nor  yet  would  I  have  you  forward  to  vent 
"  your  own  fuppofed  Gifts,  and  Parts,  and  Teaching  ; 
(z  — nor  to  attempt  that  in  the  Interpretation  of 
"  difficult  Scriptures^  or  Explication  of  difficult  Con- 
"  troverfies,  which  is  beyond  your  Ability,  though 
"  perhaps  Pride  may  tell  you,  that  you  are  as  a- 
"  ble  as  any.  But  the  Work  I  would  have  you 
"  meet  about  is  this,  to  repeat  together  the  Word 
<f  you  have  heard  in  public,  to  pour  out  your 
<f  Joint-Prayers  for  the  Church,  and  yourfelves  ; 
"  to. join  in  chearful  Singing  the  Praifes  of  GOD  ; 
cf  to  open  your  Scruples,  and  Doubts,  and  Fears, 
"  and  get  Refolution  ;  to  quicken  each  other 
"  in  Love,  and  Heavenlinefs,  and  holy  walking  : 
*'  And  all  this,  not  as  a  feparated  Church,  but  as 
"  a  Part  of  the  Church  more  diligent  than  the 
cf  reft  in  redeeming  Time,  and  helping  the  Souls 
"  of  each  other  Heaven-ward. 

<f  I  know  that  many  of  late  do  abnfe  private 
<c  'Meetings  to  Schifm,  and  to  vilify  GOD's  Ordi- 
c-<  nances,  and  vent  the  windy  Iffue  of  their  empty 
"  Brains,  But  betwixt  thefe  Extreams  I  advife 
"  you  to  walk  ;  and  neither  to  forfake  the  Af- 
"  Jembling  af  yourfelves  together,  as  the  Manner  of 
"  fome  is  ',  'not  yet  to  be  carried  about  with  di- 

wrfi 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        239 

«  verfe  and  Jlrange  Dottrlnes  :  But  let  all  your 
«  private  Meetings  be  in  Subordination  to  the  pub- 
«  lie  ;  and  by  the  Approbation  and  Confent  of 
"  your  fpiritual  Guides,  and  not  without  'them  of 
"  your  own  Heads.'' 

Another  bad  Thing,  I  muft  not  omit  to  menti 
on,  is,  the  Confufwn  that  has  been  fo  common,  of 
late,  in  fome  of  our  Houfes  for  Worfhip  ;  I  mean 
not  only  on  Account  of  the  Screenings  and  Shriek- 
ings  of  the  People,  but  their  talking,  and  praying, 
•  and  exhorting,  and  finging,  and  laughing,  and  congra 
tulating  one  another  by  /baking  Hands,  and  fome- 
times  kijjlng  ;  and  all  at  the  fame  Time,  and  in 
the  fame  dffembly :  On  which  Things  their  Hearts 
have  been  zealoufly  fet,  that  the  fame  Houfes  have 
fcarce  been  emptied  for  a  Week  together,  Night 
or  Day.  It  may  feem  incredible  fimply  to  relate 
thefe  Fafts ;  but  they  are  the  real  Truth.  Says  a 
Friend,  in  giving  an  Account  of  fome  Things,  he 
was  himfelf  a  FPltnefs  to,  —  "  Half  a  Score  of 
"  them  would  be  exhorting  all  together,  and  more 
"  flfcmy  Times;  and  fome  would  be  praying ;  fome 
"  again  would  do  nothing  but  fmg,  and  that  for 
"  an  Hour,  or  more  :  And  thus  there  would  be 
"  exhorting,  praying,  finging,  all  at  the  fame  Time 
"  by  thofe  different  Perfons  ;  whereby  the  Noife 
"  was  fo  confufed  and  loud,  that  a  Perfon  could 
"  fcarce  fpeak  to  another  fo  as  to  be  heard.  " 
And  a  little  onwards,  —  "  The  Meeting  was  car- 
"  ried  on  with  what  appeared  to  me  great  Confu- 
"  fion  ;  fome  {creaming  out  in  Diftrefs  and  An- 
"  guim ;  fome  praying  ',  others  Jinging  ;  fome  a- 
"  ^m  jumping  up  and  down  the  Houfe,  while  o- 
u  thers  were  exhorting  ;  fome  lying  along  on  the 
"  Floor,  and  others  walking  and  talking  :  The 
"  whole  with  a  very  great  Noife,  to  be  heard  at  a 

«  Miles 


146  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

tf  Miles  Diftance, and  continued almoft  the  whole 
"  Night/'  And  yet  again,  "  Many  of  the  young 
"  Women  would  go  about  the  Houfe  praying  and 
rc  exhorting ;  then  they  would  feparate  themfelves 
"  from  the  other  People,  and  get  into  a  Corner 
*c  of  the  Houfe  to  Jing  and  rejoice  together  ;  and 
"  then  they  would  break  forth  into  as  great  a 
"  Laughter  as  could  be,  to  think,  as  they  exprefl  it, 
"  that  they  fhould  go  Hand  in  Hand  to  Heaven. 
"  Then  they  would  fpeak  it  over  again,  and  fhout 
u  out  into  a  great  Laughter,  laughing  and  Jingmg, 
u  jumping  up  and  down,  and  clapping  their  Hands 
"  together;  andfome  would  be  fo  filled  with  Joy, 
c*  as  they  pretended,  that  they  eould  not  Jiand  or* 
<c  walk  :  And  all  this,  when,  at  the  fame  Time, 
"  there  t^ere  threefcore  Perfons  lying,  fome  on  the 
"  Floor,  fome  acrofs  the  Seats,  while  others  were 
"  held  up  and  fupported  in  great  Diflrefs."  And, 
after  fome  other  Things  upon  the  Times  he  adds, 
"  Thus  they  fpent  more  than/rjmDays.  TheMeet- 
<f  ing-Houfe  was  fcarce  empty,  but  fome  or  other 
"  were  there,  the  whole  of  the  Time,  both  Night 
"  and  Day."  Agreable  whereto  is  another  Ac 
count  from  another  Part  of  the  Country,  "  — - 
<c  They  had  a  publick  Exercife  every  Day,  and  for 
"  nine  Nights  fucceffively.  Numbers  of  the  Peo- 
<c  pie  continued  the  greateffc  Part  of  the  Night, 
"  in  the  titmofl  Diforder.  They  were  groaning, 
"  crying  out,  fainting,  falling  down,  praying',  exhort* 
"  *ng 9  fagging,  laughing,  congratulating  each  other, 
"  which  they  did  by  flaking  Hands  and  Embraces. 
"  (the  latter  was  commonly  praftifed  by  diffef- 
"  ent  Sexes)  and  by  the  fifth  Night,  there  were 
"  almofl  three  Hundred  thus  affected,  who  were 
"  afting  their  different  Parts  at  the  fame  Time  ; 
<f  which  occafloned  inexpreiTible  Confufion,  and 
<f  render'd  it  impoffible  to  make  a  juft  Obferva- 

"  tion 


L        and  dangerous  Tenancy. 

ic  upon  all  that  paffed;  but  I  evidently  foutid.''--- 
To  the  like  Purpofe  is  what  we  have  printed 
in  the  BOSTON  Poft-Boyrf  ~ "  He  (Mr.  D— - T)  atid 
"  fome  other  Minifters,  and  young  gifted  Bre- 
tc  thren,  held  forth  every  Day  on  the  Commence* 
"  ment  Week,  and  generally  continued  'till  ten  or 
"  eleven  at  Night,  and  then  a  great  Part  of 
"  their  Carryings  on  tyas,  not  by  praying,  fingtng} 
"  and  Preaching  upon  a  Text  as  ufual  ;  but  ones 
"  would  make  a  fhort  Prayer,  then  another  givei 
"  a  Word  of  Exhortation  :  Then  one  would  prb^ 
"  pofe  a  Pfalm,  then  another  a  Prayer,  then  ailo- 
"  ther  a  Word  of  Exhortation,  and  fo  ori,  without 
"  any  certain  Order>  or  Method  ;  fo  that  iri  on£ 
tf  Meeting  of  two  or  three  HourSj  there:  would 
u  be,  it  may  be,  20  br  30  .diftincl;  Exercifes  car- 
*(  ried  on,  by  5  or  ID  difliii6l  Perfons  ;  fotb& 
"  Handing  in  the,  Pulpit,  fome  in  the  Body  df 
*c  the  Seats,  fome  in  the  Pews,  and  fome  up  Gal- 
"  lery  ;  and  oftentimes,  feveral  of  them  would 
lf  fpeak  together  :  So  that  fome  praying,  fome  <?#- 
*'  horting,  and  terrifying,  fbme  finging,  fome  fcream- 
"  ing,  fome  crying,  fome  laughing,  arid  fome  /b/^- 
u  t/2^  made  the  moil  amazing  Confufion  that  ever 
u  was  heard/' 

I  could  go  on  with  Accounts  of  this  Nature^ 
as  I  have  had  them  from  Numbers  of  F'erfons^ 
Upon  the  Evidence  of  their  own  Eyes  and  Ears  j 
but  'tis  needlefs  in  fo  plain  a  Cafe.  There  are* 
few  Places^  where  the  late  Commotion* has  been  ; 
efpecially,  where  it  has  been  fpoken  of  as  remark 
able,  but  there  has  been  this  Appearance  alfo  in  a 
lefs  or  greater  Degree  :  Yea>  and  fo  high  were 
the  People  in  their  Opinion  of  it,  as  a,  Sign  of 

i  Numb.  391. 

R 


242  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

the  extraordinaryPrefence  of  the  SPIRIT  with  them, 
that  if  you  talk'd  with  them  to  ihew  them  the  Inde 
cency  of  fuch  Carryings  on,  they  would  only  pity 
you,  and  fpeak  of  you,  as  poor  carnal  Sinners,  de- 
flitute  of  the  SPIRIT,  and  in  the  broad  Way  te 
Hell. 

To  fuch  as  may  ftill  be  of  this  Temper  of  Mind, 
I  have  nothing  to  fay,  as  not  thinking  them  fit 
Perfons  to  be  reafoned  with  ,•  and  as  to  others 
in  the  fober  Exercife  of  their  Under/landing 9  the 
bare  Relation  of  fuch  Extravagancies  is  enough  to 
expofe  them  ;  efpecially,  when* they  are  com- 
par'd  with  the  like  Dif orders  in  the  Church  of  CO 
RINTH,  condemned  by  the  Apoftle  PAUL,*  and  up 
on  this  eternal  Maxim  of  Truth,  That  GOD  if 
not  the  Author  of  Confufion,  but  of  Peace,  as  in  all 
the  Churches  of  the  Saint  s.$ 

The  laft  Thing  I  {hall  mention  as  of  dangerous: 
Tendency,  is  that  Spirit  of  Error  which  is  gone  forth 
into  the  Land.  And  here  it  will  be  neceflary  to 
defcend  to  Particulars,  under  each  of  which  I 
might  eafily  enlarge,  but  find  my  felf  obliged  to 
contract,  left  this  Volume  fwell  beyond  its  in 
tended  Size. 

The  fiiil  Error  I  would  take  Notice  of,  is  that 
which  fuppofes  MinJjIett,  if  not  converted,  unca- 
pable  of  being  the  Inftrumenls  of  fpiritual  Good  to 
Men's  Souls.  Mr.  WHITEFIELD  very  freely  vent 
ed  this  Error.  I  have  my  felf  been  prefent,  when 
he  delivered  that  from  the  Pulpit,  upon  this  Head, 
which  I  could  not  but  think  very  unfafe  ,*  and, 
in  what  he  has  wrote,  his  Language  is  fuch  as  e- 

*  i  Cor.  14.  23,  26.     £  V.  33. 

evidently 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         243 

evidently  tends  to  lead  People  into  wrong. Senti 
ments  about  the  Preaching  of  Minifters,  if  thought 
to  be  unconverted.  His  Words  are  thefe,:f  "  The 
"  Reafon  why  Congregations  have  been  fo  dead, 
"  is  becaufe  they  have  dead  Men  preaching  to 
"  them.  •—  For  how  can  dead  Men  beget  living 
"  Children  ?  Its  true  indeed,  GOD  may  convert 
"  People  by,  the  Devil,  if  he  pleafes  ;  and  fo 
"  he  may  by  unconverted  Minifters.  .,  But  I  be- 
"  lieve,  he  feldom  makes  Ufe  of  either  of  them 
"  for  this  Purpofe.*  No,  the  LORD  will  chufe 
"  Veflels  made  meet  by  the  Operation  of  the 
"  BLESSED  SPIRIT  for  his  facred  Ufe."  And  a  few 
Pages  onwards,  g  "  I  infilled  much,  in  my  Dif- 
"  courfe  upon  the  Doclrine  of  the  New-Birth, 
< '  and  alfo  the  Neceffity  of  a  Minifter's  being  con- 
"  verted,  before  he  could  preach  CHRIST  aright. ~ 
<c  Unconverted  Minifters  are  the  Bane  of  the  Chri- 
"  ftian  Church."  And  in  his  Sermon  at  GLASGOW, 


Journal  at  NEW-ENGLAND,  P.  70. 
Mr.  TENNENT'S  Language  upon  this  Head  of  un 
converted  Minifters  is  much  the  fame.  In  his  Ser 
mon  at  NOTTINGHAM,  P.  8.  He  has  thefe  Words, 
**  Is  a  dead  Man  fit  to  bring  others  to  Life  ?  Sad 
"  Experience  verifies  the  Unprofitablenefs  of  the 
"  Miniftry  of  unconverted  Men.  ----  "What  if  feme 
44  fnftances  could  be  fhewn  of  unconverted  Mini- 
<c  fters  being  instrumental  in  convincing  Perfons  or" 
"  their  loft  ERate  ?  The  Thing  is  very  ;;;re  and 
"  extraordinary.  And  for  what  f  know  as  many 
"  Inftances  might  be  given  of  Satan's  convincing 
'*  Perfons  by  his  Temptations.  Indeed,  its  a  Kind 

of  Chance-  Medley  ,    both    in    Refpecl:    of  his   Fa- 
44  ther    and  his  Children,    when    any    fuch   Event 

happens." 
P.  85,  86. 

R  2  ©n 


*' 


'fc'4'4     ,          Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

on  Lake  4.  1 8,  19.  "  It  is  abfolutely  neceflary 
44  before  a  Minifter  undertake  to  preach  the  Gof- 
"  pel,  that  he  have  an  experimental  Acquaintance 
*4  with  JESUS  CHRIST."  Page  6.  "  It  is  indeed 
( c  impoflible  in  the  very  Nature  of  Things,  that 
"  a  Man  ihould  preach  CHRIST  who  doth  not 
"  know  him."  Page  8.  "  I  believe  GOD  doth 
"  not  convert  others  by  unconverted  Men."  P.  12. 

I  don't  obfer/e,  in  thefe  PafTages,  any  Diftinc- 
tion  between  Minifters  in  a  private  Capacity  as 
Chrijtians,  and  as  Officers  in  the  Church  of  CHRIST. 
In  the  fir  ft  Senfe,  Converilon  is  as  necejjary  for 
Minifters  as  People  ;  nor  can  they,  except  they 
be  converted,  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of  GOD. 
But  Converfion  does  not  appear  to  be  alike  necejfa- 
ry  for  Miniflers  in  their  public  Capacity,  as  Offi 
cers  in  die  Church.  That  they  {hould  be  con 
verted  is,  no  doubt,  a  Matter  of  great  Impor 
tance  ;  nor  will  it  be  denied,  that  converted  Mi 
nifters,  cateris  paribus,  are  much  the  beft  qualifi 
ed  Perfons  to  ferve  the  great  Ends  of  the  Mini- 
flry,  in  forming  Men  to  Holineis,  and  building 
them  up  through  Faith  uuto  Salvation  :  Eut  that 
this  is  necefltiry  to  their  being  true  Miniftcrs,  we 
no  where  find  in. the  Word  of  GOD  ;  much  lefs 
that  they  can  no  more  beget  (i.  e.  as  Inftrumnti) 
Children- in  they/;r>fto/,  than  dead  Men  can  in  the 
natural  Senfe  :  Nor  are  they,  any  where  in  the 
Bible ,  compared  to  the  Devil,  and  put  upon  a  Par 
with  him  in  Refpe6l  of  Unfitnefs,  as  Inftruments  in 
the  Bufinefs  of  Converfion,  or  the  Likelihood  of 
GOD's  making  Ufe  of  them  as  Inftfufhents  in  this 
Work.  Suggeflions  of  this  Nature  are  the  Fruit 
of  Men's  own  Imaginat ions,  and  not  what  they  have 
fecch'd  from  that  unerring  Rule,  the  Scripture  of 
Truth. 

Neither 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency:         245 

Neither  does  this  Gentleman  diilinguiili  between 
vijible  and  real  Converjion  ;  which  is  a  very  necef- 
fary  Distinction  in  this  Cafe.  'Tis  readily  own'a} 
VISIBLY  unconverted  Men  are  unfit  to  be  Minfiers, 
and  ought  not  to  be  fo.  That  is  to  fay,  Men 
who  are  vtfibly  unfound  in  the  Faith,  or  of  a  bad 
Life,  mould,  upon  no  Terms,  be  admitted  into  the 
Mini/try  ;  or  if,  after  they  have  been  in  the  Mi- 
niffcry,  this  Ihould  appear  to  be  their  Charafter, 
they  ought  to  be  turn'd  out  of  it.  But  can  this  be 
truly  faid  of  thofe  who  are  vifibly,  though  not  re 
ally,  the  Men  it  is  required  they  fliould  be  ?  By 
no  Means.  The  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  has  given 
his  Church  no  Rule  by  which  they  can  difcover 
fecret  Hypocrify  :  And  notwithffonding  the  clofeft 
Adherence  to  Scripture  Diredlions,  Hypocrites  may 
be  admitted  into  the  Miniftry,  and  being  admitted, 
can't  but  on  vifible  Evidence  be  excluded  ;  nay,  as 
the  Cafe  may  be,  it  would  be  an  open  Violation  of 
the  Laws  of  JESUS  CHRIST  to  difplace  them  from 
their  Office.  And  would  CHRIST  have  fliffsred  it  to 
be  thus,  if  Perfons  vifibly  holy,  tho'  not  really  and 
inwardly  fo,  might  not  be  employ'd  in  the  ffork 
of  the  Mlnlftry-  ?  If  fuch  were  as  unfit  as  the 
Devil  for  this  Employment,  and  as  unlikely  to  be 
us'd  as  Injlruments  for  Good  to  Men's  Souls,  is  it 
poilible  the  compafflonate  JESUS  fliould  leave  his 
Church  without  fome  certain  Criterion,  by  which 
they  might  know,  who  were  inwardly  hypocritical 
when  their  outward  Appearance  was  good,  avid  who 
were  not  ?  And  for  Want  of  fuch  a  Mark,  rnuft 
not  the  Minds  of  ferious,  weil-ciifpos'd  People, 
be  in  eternal  Perplexities  about  their  Minifters, 
as  not  being  able  to  know  whether  they  are. really 
.converted,  and  not  having  fnfficient  Means  to 
know  ? 

R  3  The 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

The  Truth  of  the  Matter,  in  fhort,  is  this  ; 
VISIBLE  ffolinefe  is  that  alone,  the  Laws  of  JESUS 
CHRIST  will  ailow  us  to  judge  by  ;  and  if  Mini- 
flers  are  holy  in  this  Senfe,  they  are  to  be  treated 
as  the  Mlnlfters  of  CHRIST  ;  and  People  may 
in  Faith  attend  their  Preaching,  hoping  for  a  di 
vine  Bleffing  : 

Nor  is  it  reafonable  to  think  a  merciful  GOD 
would  withhold  his  Bleffing,  meerly  becaufe  the 
Preacher  is  not  the  Man  Inwardly,  he  profefles  to 
be  outwardly.  'Tis  indeed  a  downright  popifb  Prin* 
clple  to  make  the  Efficacy  of  Ordinances  depend  on 
the  unknown  fecret  Holmefs  of  the  Admlnljlrators  of 
them. 

Agreable  to  thefe  Sentiments  is  the  following 
Article,  in  the  WESTMINSTER  Confeflton  of  Faithrf 
*'  The  Grace  which  is  exhibited  in,  or  by  the  Sa- 
"  craments  rightly  us'd,  is  not  conferred  by  any 
*'  Power  in  them  :  Neither  doth  the  EFFICACY 
"  of  a  Sacrament  depend  upon  the  PIETY^  or  Jn- 
"  tent  ion  of  him  that  doth  adminifler  it  ;  but  up- 
"  on  the  Work  of  the  SPIRIT,  and  the  Word  of 
1  L:jlitutlon,  which  contains,  together  with  a  Pre- 
*•  cept  authorifing  the  Ufe  thereof,  a  Promife  of 
^  Benefit  to  worthy  Receivers."  It  may  be  worth 
a  Remark,  this  Article  has  a  Place,  Word  for 
Word,  in  the  NEW-ENGLAND  Confeffion  of  Faith, 
drawn  up,  own'd  and  confented  to,  by  the  Elders 
and  Meffengers  of  thefe  Churches,  afFembled  in  Bos-? 
TON,  May  12.  1660  ;  being  the  fecond  Seffion 
of  that  Synod*  And  confonant  hereto  is  the  26th 
Article  of  the  Church  of  ENGLAND.  The  Words 
are,  ff  Although  in  the  vifible  Church,  the  Evil 

f  Chapter  26.  Seft.  3,    *  Chapter  28.  Se&,  3. 

be 


PART    I.         and  "dangerous  Tendency.         247 

"  be  ever  mingled  with  the  Good,  and  fometime 
"  the  Evil  have  chief  Authority  in  the  Mlnljtrat'wn 
"  of  the  Word  and  Sacraments  :  Yet,  forafmuch 
"  as  they  do  not  the  fame  in  their  own  Name,  but 
"  in  CHRIST'S  ;  and  do  mimfler  by  his  Commif- 
"  fion  and  Authority, '  WQ  may  ufe  their  Miniftry, 
"  both  in  hearing  the  Word  of  GOD,  and  in  receiv- 
"  ing  the  Sacraments.  Neither  is  the  Effeft  of 
"  CHRIST s  Ordinance  taken  away  by  THEIR  WICK- 
"  EDNESS,  nor  the  Grace  of  GOD's  Gifts  diminifljecl 
"  from  fitch,  as  by  Faith,  and  rightly,  do  receive  the  Sa- 
"  eminent  s  miniftred  to  them  ;  which  be  EFEECTUAL 
"  becaufe  of  CHRIST  s  Inflitution  and  Promifey  al- 
"  though  they  be  minijlred  by  evil  Men." 

Upon  which  I  would  obferve,  This  is  one  of 
the  Articles,  Mr.  W-— D  fubfcritfd  at  his  Ordinati 
on  ;  exprefling  both  his  AJfent  and  Confent  to  it 
as  the  Truth  of  GOD  :  Yea,  this  is  one  of  thofe 
Articles,  he,  fome  Time  before  his  Ordination,  made 
Obfervations  upon,  and  prov'd  by  Scripture,  as  he  him- 
feif  declares.*  And  as  he  has  fo  often  publickly 
chaftis'd  others  for  contradicting  with  their  Lips, 
and  Pens,  what  they  had  fubf crib' d  with  their  Hands, 
I  hope  he  will  confider  his  own  Conduct,  and,  for 
the  Time  to  come,  pay  a  greater  Regard  to  this 
Article  he  has  fubfcrib'd  to  as  true,  and  proved  to 
be  Jo  from  Scripture ;  or  no  more  fault  that  in  others^ 
for  which  he  is  to  blame  himfelf. 

The  Words  of  Bp  BURNET,  in  his  Expqfition  of 
this  Article  will  come  in  pertinently  here.  Says 
he,f  "TheOccafion  that  was  given  to  this  Article , 


See  his  Life,  Page  40.     f  His  Exfofu'wn   of 
the  39  Articles,  P.  295,  296* 

R  4  was 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

f<  was  the  Heat  of  fome  in  the  Beginnings 
f*  of  the  Reformation  ;  who  being  much  offend- 
ff  ed  at  the  public  Scandal  which  was  given  by 
«f  the  enormous  Flees  that  were,,  without  any 
ff  Difguife,  praftifed  by  the  Roman  Clergy,  did 
&  from  thence  revive  the  Conceit  of  the  DONA- 
*<  TISTS,  who  thought  that  not  only  Herejy  and 
'<  Schifm  did  invalidate  facred  Functions,  but  that 
?'  perfonal  Sins  did  alfo  make  them  void."  Upon 
which  he  thus  argues.,  "  Sacraments  are  to  be 
£<  confidered  as  public  Afts  of  the  Church  ;  and 
f  though  the  Effeft  of  them,  as  tq  him  that  re- 
f  celves  them,  depends  upon  his  Temper,  his 
fc  Preparation  and  Application,  yet  it  cannot  be 
<c  imagined,  that  the  Virtue  of  thofe  foederal  A£ts, 
*f  to  which  Chriftians  are  admitted  in  them,  the 
**  Validity  of  them,  or  the  Blejfings  that  follow 
fc  them,  can  depend  on  the  fecret  State  or  Tempe? 
ff  of  him  that  officiates.  Even  in  the  Cafe  of  pub- 
^  lie  Scandals, — we  muft  diflinguiili  between  the 
K  Things  which  the  Miniflers  of  the  Church  do, 
$f  as  they  are  public  Officers,  and  what  they  do  as 
^  they  are  private  Chriflians.  Their  Prayers  and 
<c  every  Thing  elfe  that-  they  do,  as  they  are  pri- 
*'.  vate  Chriflians^  have  their  "Effe6t  only  according 
ff  to  the  State  and  Temper  they  are  in,  when  they 
fc  offer  them  up  to  GOD  ;  but  their  public  Func- 
ff  tioris  are  the  Appointments  of  CHRIST  in  which 
f '  they  officiate  : '  They  can  neither  make  them 
"  the  better,  nor  the  worfe  by  any  Thing  that 
"  they  join  to  them."  He  therefore  concludes j 
f*  This  Opinion  which  was  taken  up,  perhaps., 
"  from  an  inconfiderate  Zeal  againil  the  Sins  and 
^  Scandals  of  the  Clergy,  is  without  all  Foundation, 
"  and  muft  needs  caft  all  Men  into  endlefs  Scru- 
f  pies,  which  can  never  be  cured." 


f  ART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         249 

I  {hall  only  add,  this  Error,  which,  among  us, 
took  Rife  from  Mr.  W — D,  has  been  propagated 
to  fo  many,  that  'tis  now  the  prevailing  Opinion 
among  our  new  Converts,  and  I  wim  I  could  not 
fay,  among  fome  of  their  Leaders  alfo  :  And  to 
fuch  a  Height  are  they  grown  in  it,  that  the  ivorft 
Names  are  not  thought  too  bad  to  beftow  upon 
many  Minifters^  not  becaufe  of  any  Thing  amifs 

in 


A  furprifing  Inftance  of  this,  we  have  in  Mr. 
TENNENT,  notwithstanding  his  Character  by  Mr. 
WHITEFIELD,  as  a  mighty  charitable  Man.  Per 
haps,  there  cannot  be  produced,  out  of  any  Author, 
a  greater  Number  of  moie  Jlanderous  Names  than  he 
has  freely  beftowed  upon  the  Body  of  the  Clergy  of 
this  Generation.  I  fhall  here  prefent  the  Reader  with 
a  Lift  of  them,  as  they  have  been  collected  out  of 
his  Sermon  at  NOTTINGHAM,  and  publifh'd  by  the 
Synod  at  PHILADELPHIA.  They  are  therein  repre- 
fented  as  "  Hirelings  ;  Caterpillars  ;  Letter- learn- 
**  fd-Pharifees  ;  Men  that  have  the  Craft  of  Foxes, 
*'  and  the  Cruelty  of  Wolves  ;  plaijlered  Hypocrites  ; 
"  Varlets  -,  the  Seed  of  the  Serpent  ;  foolijb  Build- 
<c  ers,  whom  the  Dtv.il  drives  Into  the  Miniflry  ; 
*c  dry  Nurfes  ;  dead  Dogs  that  canmt  bark  ;  blind 
<;  Men  ;  dead  Men  ;  Men  pojffffed  ivith  the  De- 
^  vil  ;  Rebels  and  Enemies  to  GOD  ;  Guides 
*{  that  are  Stone- blind,  and  Stone-dead  ;  Children 
"  of  Satan,  that,  like  their  Father,  may  do  good  to 
*c  Men's  Soul$  by  Chance- Medley  ;  Daubers  with 
ft  untempered  Mortar  ;  moral  Negroes  ;  Salt  with- 
*'  out  Savour,  thatjiink  in,  the  Noftrils  of  GOD  and 
<c  Man  >  JUDAS'S,  whofe  chief  Deftre  is  to  finger 
"  the  Penny,  and  to  carry  the  Bag  ;  murderous 
*'  Hypocrites,  that  are  to  take  Care  left  they  feel  the 
"  Force  of  a  Halter  in  this  JVorld^  or  an  aggravated 
"  Damnation  in  the  next  ;  fubtle  felfijh  Hypocrite?, 
Jc  that  ivwld  not  let  one  banejl  Man  come  into  the 

Miniflry 


250  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

in  their  Doftrine,  or  Converfation,  but  becaufe  they 
are  pleas'd,  in  open  Violation  of  the  Chriftian  Law 
of  Charity,  to  look  upon  them  as  unconverted  : 
And  as  to  all  ,fuch,  however  exemplary  they  may 
have  been  for  the  Purity  of  their  Doftrine  and 
Manners  ;  and  this,  for  a  Courfe  of  Years,  they 
are  fo  far  from  owning  them  as  true  Miriifters, 
that  they  freely  fpeak  of  them,  as  Pharifees,  blind 
Guides,  Solves  in  Sheep's  Charting,  Minijlers  of 
the  Devil,  and  what  not.  Which  leads  me  to 
mention  another  Error  naturally  fpringing  from 
this,  viz. 

That  which  juftifies  People  in  a  Withdraw  from 
•thofe  Minifters  they  look  upon  as  unconverted, 
though  found  in  the  Faith,  and  of  a  vijible  good  Con- 
verfation.  The  many  feparate  Meetings  in  the 
Land  are  a  Proof  of  the  general  Spread  of  this 
Error :  Nor  are  the  Gentlemen  unknown,  who  have 
gone  up  and  down  the  Country,  preaching  this 
Doctrine,  andfpiriting  People  to  Schifm  and  Faction. 

'Tis-  pretended,  "  they  ought  not  to  hear  un- 
"  converted  Minifters"  If  fo,  they  ought  furely ! 

to] 


"  Miniflry  if  they  could  help  it  ;  Swarms  of  Lo~ 
<c  cufts  ;  Crowds  of  Phartfees^  that  have  as  cove~ 
<c  teoujly,  as  cruelly ,  crept  into  the  Miniftry^  in  this 
"  adulterous  Generation^  who  as  nearly  refemble  the 
**  Char 'after  given  of  the  old  Pharifees^  as  one  Crow's 
C*  Egg  does  another ,  zvbofe  Hearers  are  as  blind  as 
*€  Moles,  and  dead  as  Stones  ;  Succejfirs  of  Nico- 
<c  DEM  us  ;  blind  Leaders  of  the  Blind  ;  Forma- 
"  lifts  ;  dead  Drones  -9  Sons  of  SCEVA,  with  a 
<c  fine  long  String  of  Prayers  ;  falfe  Apojlles  \  de- 
*c  ceitful  Worker^  Minijhn  of  S'atan,  &c."  See 
the  Examiner 3  P.  149. 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency*          251 

to  be  well  fatisfied,  that  they  are  unconverted  : 
Noi;  will  evil  Surmifmgs,  or  unchriftian  Jealouiles 
fuffice  in  this  Cafe.  There  mud  be  good  Proof, 
vijible  Evidence  ;  or,  the  Gofpel  of  CHRIST  will 
never  juftify  them  in  their  fffiihdraw.  And  can. 
this  be  juftly  pleaded,  in  Refpecl;  of  any  one  Sepa 
ration  in  the  Land  ?  Will  any  venture  to  fpeak 
it  out,  in  plain  Words,  of  any  of  the  Minifies 
who  are  withdrawn  from,  that  they  are  unfound 
in  the  Faith,  or  of  a  bad  Life  ?  How  then  can 
it  be  proved,  that  they  are  unconverted?  They  may 
be  fo,  'tis  true,  notwithftanding  the  moft  goodly 
Appearance ;  but  'tis  not  evident  to  the  World,  that 
they  are  :  And  'tis  contrary  to  the  Gofpel  to 
judge  ill  of  a  private  Brother,  much  more  of  a 
public  Officer,  but  upon  vifible  Evidence. 

But  fuppofe  they  are  unconverted,  and  this  is  e- 
vident  by  what  is  vijible.  Is  Jeparating  from  their 
Miniftry  the  firfl  Thing  neceiTary  ?  Even  a 
f elf -condemned  Heretick  is  not  to  be  rejected,  till  af 
ter  a  firft  and  fecond  Admonition,,  The  firjl  Thing 
to  be  done  is,  to  enter  a  Procefs  againfl  them, 
according  to  Gofpel-Rule.  They  are  CHRIST'S  Of 
ficers,  'till  the  Difcipline  of  his  Kingdom  has  been 
exercis'd  upon  them  :  And  'till  then,  they  ought 
not  to  be  feparated  from,  (unlefs  it  can't'  be  ob* 
tain'd )  though  we  mould  think,  and  upon  good 
'Grounds  too,  that  they  are  unconverted  :  And 
this  is  the  Method  prefcrib'd  in  the  ORDER  of 
thefe  Churches,  and  of  every  other  Church  in  the 
whole  Proteftant  World, 

(f  But  their  Preaching  is  bad,  and  tends  to  lead 
€4  Souls  to  Hell"  But  does  this  neceflarily  follow 
upon  their  being  unconverted  ?  They  may  not 
withftanding  preach  the  Truth  as  it  is  'in  JESUS  ; 

and, 


252  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

and,  if  they  are  Men  of  fuperior  Attainments,  may; 
fet  it  in  a  clearer  and  flronger  Light,  than  others 
of  f mailer  Gifts,  though  converted.     And  can  it  be 
any  other  than  the  Fruit  of  grofs  Prejudice  to  fay, 
that  the  Truths  of  the  Gofpel  lead  to  Hell,  only 
becaufe  preach'd  by  Minifters  fuppos'd  to  be  un-4 
converted  ?     Are  the  fame  Truths  fating  or  damn^ 
ing,  as  delivered  by  converted,  or  unconverted  Mini- j 
fters  ?     'Tis  impoffible  the  differing   Characters* 
of  Men  fhould  make    fuch  a  Difference  in  the 
moral  Effects  of  the  fame  Truths.     Or,  if  thefe 
Minifters,  who  are  called  unconverted,  preach  Doc 
trines  inconfiftent  with  the   Gofpel,   and  in   the 
Nature  of  them  deftru&ive  to  Men's  Souls,  let  it 
be  made  to  appear  :    Nothing  would  be  more  ef- 
feftual  to  put  them  to  Silence. 

"  But  'tis  feen  there  is  no  good  Effect  of  the§ 
"  Preaching  of  unconverted  Minifters.''     If  by  un 
converted  Minifters  be  mean't  fuch,  as  have  been 
guilty  of  the  moft  filthy  Uncleannefs,  under  the. 
highejl  Aggravations,  the  Preaching  of  fuch  han't 
been  without  good  Effect,  even  according  to  the 
Mind  of  thofe  who   make  this   Objection.     For 
'tis  generally  known  of  a  famous  Preacher,  horj 
ribly  guilty  in  this  Kind,  and  prov'd  to  have  been 
fo,  and   depos'd  from  the  Miniftry  on   this  Acl 
count,    that  the  Effect  of  his  Preaching,  in  the 
Extraordinaries  of  the  prefent  Day,  equal'd,  for  a 
Time,  all  that   the  moft  noted  among   our  new. 
Preachers  could  pretend  to.     He  fo  preach'd  as  to 
be  flock'd  after  by  Multitudes  of  all  Sorts  ;     and 
fo  far  as  fhrieking,  and  Jcr earning,  and  falling  down, 
and  being  in  Agonies  of  Diftrefs,  or  Raptures  of 
Joy,  are  a  Sign  of  the  good  Effect  of  Preaching,  he 
might  compare  with  any  for  the  Evidences  of  it: 
But  he  was  a  converted  Minifter,  in  the  Opinion  of 

the 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        253 

the  People  ;  and  there  han't  been,  'tis  true,  thefe 
Extraordinaries  following  the  Word  preach'd  by 
thofe  called  unconverted  ;  though  they  hope  not- 
withftanding,  they  have  not  laboured  altogether 
in  vain.  Oiher  Effefts  they  could  fpeak  of,  which 
they  think  a  Sign  of  fome  Succefs  ;  though  they 
defire  not  to  boaft,  and  would  lament  that  they 
have  feen  no  more  real  Fruit  of  their  Endeavours. 
But  if  their  Preaching  had  been  attended  with 
lefs  Succefs,  'tis  no  Argumeut,  either  that  they 
fare  unconverted,  or  that  People  fhould  not  own 
them  as  the  Miniflers  of  CHRIST.  The  Wind  blow* 
-.eth  where  it  Hfteth.  The  beft  Minifters  in  all  Ages 
have  complain'd  for  Want  of  Succefs  :  Even 
that  mournful  Lamentation  of  the  Prophet,^:  Who 
bath  believed  our  Report  ?  And  to  whom  is  the  Arm 
of  the  LORD  revealed  ?  The  great  SAVIOUR  of 
the  World  applies  to  himfelf,  and  the  Unfuccefs- 
fulnefs  of  his  own  Labours  for  the  Good  of  Souls.§ 
And  'tis  obfervable,  when  the  Prophet  ISAIAH  had 
faid,  *  I  have  laboured  in  vain,  I  have  fpent  my 
Strength  for  Nought  and  in  vain,  he  not  only  adds 
.  upon  it,  yet  furely  my  Judgment  ir  with  the  LORD, 
and  my  Work  with  my  GOD  ;  but  the  LORD  that 
formed  him  from  the  Womb  to  be  his  Servant,  is  in 
troduced  declaring,!  that  he  jloould  be  glorious  in 
the  Eyes  of  the  LORD,  and  his  GOD  flmld  be  his 
Strength. 

In  fine,  'tis  pleaded  thefe  unconverted  Minifters 
are  to  be  withdrawn  from,  "  becaufe  there  is  no 
"  Validity  in  their  Adminiftratiqns."  This  is  more 
eafily  faid  than  prov'd.  And  People  ihould  be 

t  Ifa.  53-  I-     5  John  12.  38.     *  Chapt.  49.  4. 
f  Verfe  5. 

careful 


254  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

careful  how  they  advance  fuch  a  Principle  as 
this  ;  for  they  may  not  be  aware  what  it  will 
end  in.  GOD  only  knows  who,  among  Miniilers, 
are  really  converted  ;  and  if  the  Adminiilrations 
of  fuch  only  are  valid,  who  can  with  Safety  ven 
ture  to  fit  under  the  Preaching  of  any  Minifter 
living  ?  But  this  is  not  all  ; "  if  real  Conversion 
is  neceflary  to  the  Validity  of  minifterial  Admini- 
ftrations,  who  can  fay  they  have  been  validly  bap 
tized,  or  admitted  into  the  Church  ?  It  mud 
forever  remain  a  Perplexity  to  a  Man's  Mind  ; 
and  the  fame  Difficulty  would  return,  if  he  was 
to  be  baptifed,  and  admitted  into  the  Church  ten 
Times  over  :  Yea,  fo  definitive  a  Principle  is 
this,  that  no  Man  can  know  whether  there  is  any 
true  Church,  or  valid  Ordinances,  in  the  Town,  Pro 
vince,  or  Kingdom,  he  belongs  to*  The  plain 
Truth  is,  the  Validity  of  Gofpel-Adminiflrationsj 
(as  has  been  faid)  does  not  depend  upon  the  real 
Converfion  of  the  Minifter,  nor  upon  our  Opinion 
of  him  in  this  Refpe6l,  but  upon  his  being  CHRIST'S 
Officer,  improved  by  him  to  difpenfe  the  Ordinan 
ces  of  his  Kingdom,  which  he  may  be,  though 
he  is  inwardly  another  Man  than  he  appears  to  be 
Giitvsardly. 

Pertinent  to  this  Purpofe  are  the  Words  of  Mr. 
JOHN  STILLINGFLEET.  Says  he,  f  "  If  the  Mini- 
"  Her  be  bad,  yet  if  he  preaches  the  Word  of 
"  GOD,  we  muft  receive  the  Word,  becaufe  we 
"  are  not  fo  much  to  regard  the  Man  preaching, 
"  as  the  Word  f  reached. — 'Tis  not  the  Per/on,  but 


f  See  his  Demonftration  of  the  Divine  Prefence  in 
the  Places  of  religious  Worfloif,  Page  132,  133, 

135- 

<r  the 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency. 

"  the  Office  ;  not  the  Man,  but  his  Miniftry  ; 
"  not  his  Ufe9  but  his  Doftrine,  we  are  to  look 
«  to. — When  CHRIST  fent  out  his  twelve  Allies 
"  to  preach,  of  all  of  them  he  faith,  He  that  re- 
"  ceivetb  you,  receiveth  me  ;  yet,  one  of  thefe  was 
M  JUDAS  ISCARIOT,  'who  alfo  betrayed  him.  We 
"  plainly  fee  by  CHRIST'S  own  Words,  we  may 
"  receive  CHRIST  by  the  Miniftry  of  JUDAS,  a 
"  Traytor,  I  might  fay,  a  Devil.  The  Expreffion, 
"  'tis  true,  is  harili  ;  but  our  SAVIOUR  fears  not 
"  to  fpeak  thus  of  one,  whom  he  had  perfonally 
"  fent  to  preach  the  Gofpel,  one  of  you  is  a  Devil, 
"  meaning  JUDAS  :  Nay,  the  Scripture  makes  no 
"  Difference  between  JUDAS,  and  the  other  Dif- 
"  ciples,  in  the  Succefs  of  the  Miniftry.  They 
"  all  twelve  were  fent  out,  they  all  did  Miracles, 
(i  they  all  returned  to  CHRIST,  and  gave  him  an 
"  Account  of  their  Succefs.  To  them  all  CHRIST 
f c  faid,  he  had  ordain  d  they  fhould  go  out,  viz.  in 
preaching,  and  bear  much  Fruit,  viz.  in  their 
Miniftry.  And  Philip.  3.  there  were  falfe 
Apofiles  who  preached  CHRIST  out  of  Envy,  fup- 
pofmg  to  add  more  Affliction  to  PAUL  ;  which 
muft  needs  be  an  high  Degree  of  Malice  and 
Wickednefs  :  Yet,  PAUL  faid,  he  rejoiced  that 
CHRIST  was  preached  however  ;  which  could 
"  not  be,  if  their  preaching  did  no  Good.'*  And 
a  little  onwards,  "  If  this  Principle  once  prevail, 
"  that  a  Minifter  ought  not  to  be  heard  that  is  un- 
"  godly 9  though  he  preaches  nothing  but  found 
"  Dottrine,  it  would  lay  a  certain  Foundation  for 
<c  SEPARATION  from  the  outward  Means  and  Or- 
"  dinances,  at  left,  from  the  Admin iftration  of 
u  them,  as  now  they  are  enjoyed.  For  the  Cafe 
<c  would  prefently  return  hither,  as  it  is  with 
"  MANY  ALREADY,  not  whether  the  Minifter  be  re- 
"  ally  ungodly  or  no5  but  whether  he  feems  fo 

"  to 


256  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

c<  to  them  ;    and  if  he  anfwers  riot  thofe  Cha- 
"  rafters  of  Godlinefs  they  have-  laid  down,  theri 
"  they  are  oblig'd  to  hear  him  no  more.     Such 
"  fad  Works  do  bad  Principles,  and  erroneous  Confci- 
"  ences  make  in  the  Church  of  GOD.     A  fad  Ex-   ; 
<c  ample  of  this  may  be  feen  among  the  QUAKERS,-  \ 
<f  who,  upon  the  fore-mentioned  Principle,  reject 
"  and  throw  off  all  the  now  Minifters  of  ENGLAND, 
"  making  no  Difference.  .....  How  much  better 

*c  may  we  determine  thus$  the  Office  of  the  Mi- 
"  niftry  is  facred,  tho'  Minifters  may  be  ungodly. 
"  The  Promife  of  CHRIST'S  Prefence  is  made  to 
"  Perfons  for  the  OFFICE  SAKE,   and  not  to  the  \ 
"  Office  for  the  Perfons  ;    fo  to  the  Office  more  l 
"  than  to  the  Perfons/' 

A  third  Error  of  the  Times  is,  a  prefumptuous  I 
Dependance  on  the  blejjed  SPIRIT.     I  lay  a  prti-  1 
fumptuous   Dependance,   becaufe    I   mean    not    to  ;j 
blame  in   any  a  true   Gof  pel-  Reliance.       For  the'  \ 
Divine  SPIRIT  is  the  great  Operator  in  the  King-  j 
dom  of  Grace.     'Tis   he  that  begins  a  Work  of  1 
GOD  in  Men's  Hearts  ;     'tis  he  that  muft  car-  \ 
ry  it  on  ;     and  by  his  Power  only  can  they  be  \ 
kept  from  falling,  and  preferv'd  blamelefs  to  the  v: 
heavenly  World.     And  we  are  not  only  allow'd^  | 
but  required,  to  place  our  Dependance  on  him  for  \ 
thefe  Things  :     Nor  can  we,  in  any  other  Way,  i 
expe6l  to  be  form'd  to  a  Meetnefs  for  the  Favour  j. 
of  GOD  here,  or  the  Enjoyment  of  him  hereaf 
ter.     But  inftead  of  depending,  Men  may  prejume 
upon  the  WeJJtd  SPIRIT  :     And  this  is  the  Error 
of  the  prcfent  Day,  and  it  appears  in  the  following 
Inftances. 


The  firft  is,  their  fo  depending  on  the 
of  the  SPIRIT  as*  to  defplfe  Learning.     To  this  it 

is 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        ..257 

is  owing,  that  fo  many  fjp&lk'Jligbtily  of  our  Schools 
and  Colleges ;  difcovering  a  Good-Will,  were  it  in 
their  Power,  to  rafe  them  to  their  Foundations,  f 

To 


f  It  may  not  be  amifs  to  remark  here,  that  the  Church- 
£s,  in  this  Province,  afTembled  together  by  their 
Elders  and  Mejfengers,  particularly  mention  it  as  a 
ncceffary  Expedient  in  order  to  a  Reformation^  "  that 

food  and  effectual  Care  fhould  be  taken,  refpecl:ing 
cbeels  of  Learning."  And  they  reafon  upon  it  in 
the  following  Manner.  "  The  Intereft  of  Religion 
and  good  Literature  have  been  won't  to  rife  and  fall 
together.  We  read  in  the  Scripture  of  Mojltrs  and 
Scholars,  and  of  Schools  and  Colleges.  I  Chron.  25* 
8.  Mai.  2.  12.  Ads  19.  9.  and  22.  3.  And 
the  moft  eminent  Reformers,  among  the  LORD'S 
People  of  old,  thought  it  their  Concern  to  erecl:  and 
uphold  them.  Was  not  SAMUEL  (  that  great  Re 
former)  PRESIDENT  of  the  College  at  NAJOTH,  r 
Sam.  19.  18,  19  ;  and  thought  to  have  been  one  of 
the  firft  Founders  of  Colleges  ?  Did  not  ELIJAH  and 
ELISHA  reftore  the  Schools  creeled  in  the  Land  of1 
ISRAEL  ?  And  JOSIAH  (another  great  Reformer,) 
fhew'd  Refpe&  to  the  Cellege  at  JERUSALEM,  2 
Kings  22.  14.  Ecclefiaflical^^ij  informs,  that  great 
Care  was  taken  by  the  dpofths,  and  their  immediate 
Succeflbrs,  for  the  fettling  of  Schools  in  all  Places, 
where  the  Gofpel  had  been  preached,  that  fo  the  In- 
tereft  of  Religion  might  be  preferv'd,  and  the  Truth 
propagated  to  fucceeding  Generations.  It  is  menti 
oned  as  one  of  the  greateft  Mercies  that  ever  GOD 
beftowed  upon  his  People  ISRAEL,  that  he  raifed  up 
cf  their  Sons  for  Prophets,  Amos  2.  1 1.  Which  had 
Refpccl:  to  their  Education  in  Schools  of  Learning. 
And  we  have  all  Caufe  to  blefs  GOD,  who  put  it 
into  the  Hearts  of  our  Fathers  to  take  Care  con 
cerning  this  Matter.  For  tbefe  Churches  had  been 
in  a  State  mijl  deplorable,  if  the  LORD  had  not 
S  bkifc 


258      V:       Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

To  the  fame  Caufe  it  may,  be  afcrib'd,  that  fuch 
Swarms  of  Exhort ers  have  appeared  in  the  Land, 
and  been  admir'd  and  run  after,  though  many  of 
them  could  fcarce  fpeak  common  Senfe,  under  the 
Notion  of  immediate  Imprefflons  from  the  SPIRIT, 
"and  that  his  AJJlflance  would  more  than  fupply  the 
Want  of  Learning.  And  to  the  fame  Caufe  ftill 
it  muft  be  attributed,  that  fo  many  Minifters  preach, 
not  only  without  Book,  but  without  Study  ;  and 
juftify  their  doing  fo,  left,  by  previous  Preparation, 
they  ftiould  flint  the  SPIRIT. 

But  what  is  this  better  than  Preemption  ?  'Tis 
not  now  as  it  was  in  the  firft  Days  of  the  Gofpel. 
Men  were  then  affiiled  in  a  miraculous  and  extra* 
ordinary  Manner  ;  but  they  have  now  no  Reafon- 
to  expeft  the  SPIRIT  s  Help,  only  in  the  Way  of 
Means  ;  upon  the  due  Ufe  of  their  own  Powers, 
by  attending  to  Reading,  and  Meditation,  and 
Prayer. 


bleft  the  College,  fo  as  from  hence  to  fupply  mofl  of 
the  Churches  as  at  th'sDay.  When  NEW-ENGLAND^ 
was  poor, and  we  were  but  few  inNumber  comparative- . 
ly, there  was  a  Spirit  to  encourage  Learning,  and  the 
College  was  full  of  Students,  whom  GOD  hath  made 
BleiTings,  not  only  in  this,  but  in  other  Lands  ;> 
but  it  is  deeply  to  be  lamented,  that  now,  when  we 
are  become  many,  and  more  able  than  at  our  Be 
ginnings,  that  Society^  and  other  inferior  Schools,  are 
in  fuch  a  low  and  languifhing  State.  Wherefore,  as 
we  defire  that  Reformation  and  Religion  fhould  fiourifli, 
it  concerns  us  to  endeavour  that  both  thzCsllege,  and  all 
other  Schools  of  Learning,  in  every  Place,  be  duly  in- 
fpecled  and  encouraged.  See  the  Refult  of  the  Sy- 
n^l,  afiembled  Sept.  10.  1679.  under  the  Anfaer 
to  their  fecond  §u  eft  ion. 

This 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         259 

This  fame  Error  was  common  in  the  Country, 
in  former  Times.  It  was  then  faid,  they  needed 
m  Books  but  the  Bible  ;  and  inftead  of  ufing 
Learning,  they  rimft  rely  on  the  SPIRIT.  Private 
Men's  Prophefying  became  too  much  the  Practice, 
to  the  Negleft  and  Contempt  of  the  Miniflry.  They 
pleaded,  there  was  no  Need  of  Learning  in  preach 
ing,  and  that  one  of  them  could  by  the  SPIRIT 
do  better,  than  the  Minifter  by  his  Learning  ;  as 
if  the  SPIRIT  and  Learning  were  Oppoiites  :  which 
is  fo  far  from  being  the  Truth,  that  Learning  is 
a  fpecial  Injlrument,  the  SPIRIT  ufes  in  the  Bimnefs 
of  Preaching.  I  have  elfewhere  iliown  at  large, 
the  Sentiments  of  our  Fathers  upon  this  Head, 
and  with  what  Faithfulnefs  they  teftified  againfl: 
fitch  Notions  of  the  SPIRIT,  as  render 'd  Learning  z 
Thing  ufelefs. 

I  mall  only  add  here,  fome  Words  from  the 
celebrated  Mr.  BAXTER,  wonderfully  adapted  to 
the  prefent  Cafe.  "  It  is  (fays  hef)  a  defperate 
"  and  deflru6live  Conceit  in  any  Man,  to  think, 
"  that  becaufe  he  hath  the  SPIRIT,  he  is  therefore 
"  more  able  to  expound  Scripture,  or  teach  it  to 
"  the  People,  or  underfland  Controverfies,  than 
"  learned  Men  who  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Holinefs, 
"  —-And  upon  this  Account,  Men  cry  down  bii- 
"  man  Learning,  and  Minlflers  for  efteeming  it, 
"  and  cry  up  the  SPIRIT,  to  a  Ufe  that  GoD  doth 
<e  not  intend  it.  I  have  no  Mind,  the  LORD 
"  knows,  to  fet  up  any  Thing  of  Man  againfl 
"  GOD  ;  nor  GOD's  common  Gifts,  above  his, 
u  fpecial  ;  nor  to  draw  any  Soul  into  an  undue 
u  Efteem  of  any  Thing  that  is  in  their  Guides, 
"  but  only  to  {hew  them  the  naked  Truth/'  I 

f  His  Works.    Vol.  2.  Pag,  28(5.  «* 

S  z  would 


260  Things  of  a  bad  PART    1 

"  would  intreat  therefore  all  poor  deluded  Souls, 
"  that  are  carried  away  with  thefe  foremen tion'd 
"  Miftakes,  to  lay  by  their  Prejudice  and  Pa<Tion 
"  a  while,  and  to  weigh  impartially  the  following 
"  Things. 

cc  Can  you  underftand  any  Scripture)   without 
cc  the  Help  of  Learning  in  yourf elves,  or  others  ?' 
u  The  SPIRIT  delivered  it  to  the  World  in  GREEK 
"  and  HEBREW  ;     Can  you  underftand  it  before 
'•  it  is  translated  ?    If  not,  then  the  Knowledge 
c<  of  thofe  Tongues  is  necejjary  in  the  Tranjlators. 
"  And  would  you  have  us  fo  wholly  take  up  alii 
"  on  Truil  from  them,  from  Age  to  Age,  ever 
"  after,  as  not  to  know,  whether  they  tranflatel 
"  it  true  or  falfe  ?     Or,  whether  there  be  any] 
"  fuch  Thing  as  they  tell  us  ?     If  you  yourfelves 
"  mud  take  it  upon  Truft,  from  thofe  who  d< 
"  underiland  it,  when  you  do  not,  methinks,  yoi 
"  mould  fo  much  the  more  honour  and  reverena 
"  them,  whom  you  are  fain  to  be  fo  much  behold- 
*'  en  to,  and  whom  you  muft  trufl  in  a  Mattel 
<c  of  fuch  Concernment  to  your  Salvation  ; 
<•  whether  any  of  this  was  ever  in  the  Text 
"  the  Hebrew  and  Greek,  which  you  find  in  th< 
<(  Englifl}.     Sure,  that  which  is  fo  laudable  in  th< 
"  Tranjlators,    is   not   to  be   contemn'd   in   yoi 
u  Teachers  \  What  if  the  Rhemift  Papifts  tell  yot 
"  that  the  Bible  is  falily  tranilated,  I  pray  yoi 
"  what  Anfwer  will  you  give  them,  if  none 
"  your  Teachers  knew  it  to  be  otherwife,  who! 
"  Words  you  muft  take  as  credible  Perfons  ?  Sen< 
"  a  Hebrew  and  Greek  Bible  into  WALES  or  IRJ 
•c  LAND,  and  when  that  convert eth  Souls  without  ai 
"  Interpreter,  then  I  will  begin  to  think  Learnh 
"  lefs  neceiTiry. 


• 

-PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.         261 

"  Confider,  your  very  learning  to  fpeak,ot  read, 

"  or  write,  is  as   much  human   Learning,  as  the 

«  Learning  to  know  the  Nature  of  Creatures,  and 

I  "  Senfe  of  Jlrange  Languages.  And  if  you  renounce 

\  "  thefe  (  which  you  neither  have  by  Nature  or 

!  "  Grace  )  what  Perfons   would  you  be   ?     You 

I <;  may  as  well  fay  therefore,  that  the  SPIRIT  will 

1  "  ferve  without  Learning  to   write,  or  ready   or 

I  "  fpeak  ;     for  the  Difference  in  the  Cafes  is  only 

^  "  in  Degree,  and  not  in  Kind. 

* 

"  Confider  well,  that  there  are  feveral  Employ- 
fc  merits  that  GOD  hath  for  Men  in  the  World, 
cc  and  in  the  Church  ;  and  accordingly,  there  are 
"  feveral  Gifts  of  the  SPIRIT.  For  Salvation,  he 
"  giveth  the  Spirit  of  faving  Grace,  which  {hall 
"  teach  Men-effe£tually  their  Need  of  CHRIST, 
"  the  Evil  of  Sin,  and  the  like,-  but  not  every  o- 
"  ther  Truth.  Thofe  whom  he  will  employ  as 
<c  Interpreters  of  Scripture,  and  Teachers,  and  Guides 
"  to  others,  he  will  ftirnilli  with  Gifts  that  are 
"  neceffary  for  fuch  Employments.  And  a  Man 
(c  may  teach  others,  that  may  not  be  fanftified 
"  or  faved  himfelf  ;  and  many  are  fan6Ufied  and 
te  faved,  that  are  unfit  to  teach  others.  Are  all 
"  Prophets  ?  Is  all  the  Body  an  Eye,  or  Hand  ? 
u  GOD  may  give  Teachers  a  Spirit  of  Teaching,  as 
"  he  gave  SAUL  a  Spirit  of  Government,  and  deny 
"  it  to  better  Men,  becaufe  he  intendeth  not  them 
"  to  the  fame  Ufe.  Public  Gifts  are  for  public 
«  Ufes. 

"  Confider,  whether,  under  Pretence  of  magni~ 
nifying  the  SPIRIT,  you  do  not  bewray  moft  no 
torious  Pride,  in  the  magnifying  of  your  felves, 
and  the  Contempt  of  thofe,  whom  you  are  bouod 
to  karn  of  ?  Is  it  not  palpable  Prifo,  for  you 

S  3 


<c 


a  Things  of  aj&d  PART    I. 

that  never  beftow'd  the  twentieth  Part  of  the 
Study  and  Pains,  as  the  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel 
have  done  to  underftand  the  Scripture,  to  be 
conceited  that  you  underftand  it  as  well  as 
they  ?  —  Is  not  the  SPIRIT,  and  diligent  Study 
together,  like  to  do  more  for  Increafe  of  Know- 
ledge,  than  the  SPIRIT  will  do  without  fuch 
Studies  ?  Why  fliould  you,  in  proud  Cenfori- 
"  oufnefs,  think,  that  godly  Teachers  have  not  the 
tf  SPIRIT  as  well  as  you  ?  They  value  it  as 
"  much  ;  they  pray  as  hard  for  the  SPIRIT  ; 
"  they  confefs  their  Need  of  it  as  much  as  you  : 
*'  They  have  the  fame  GOD,  the  fame  CHRIST, 
'*  and  the  fame  Promife  as  you  ;  They  (hew  forth 
"  the  Truits  of  it  in  Holinefs,  as  much  as  you  : 
«c  And  yet,  proud  Men  dare  lift  up  themfelves  in 
"  boafting  of  the  SPIRIT,  and  defpijing  their  godly, 
"  painful  Teachers,  as  being  without  the  SPIRIT  ! 
"  Not  only  faying,  as  CORAH  and  his  Confpira- 
«  tors,  Te  take  too  much  upon  you  ;  are  not  all  the 
«  WRD's  People  holy  ?  But  alfo  faying,  It  is 
"  only  the  People  are  holy,  and  the  Priefts  are  unho- 
«  /y.,-.-You  will  confefs,  that  a  Man  that  hath 
"  fhidied  Pfa.fick  all  his  Days,  is  likely  to  be  a 
"  better  Phyjidan  than  you  that  never  ftudied  it  ; 
*6  and  a  Man  that  hath  (ludied  the  Law,  is  like- 
u  ly  to  be  a  better  Lawyer  ;  and  that  he  were 
"  a  proud  Man  that  would  fay,  though  I  never 
«  fiudied  thefe  Things,  yet  by  the  SPIRIT  I  know 
"  them  as  well  as  you.  "And  you  would  fee  your 
"  Pride  as  well  in  this  Cafe  of  Theology,  if  you 
"  dkl  but  know  andconfider,  that  the  SPIRIT  work- 
ce  erh  by  Means,  and  Mans  Indufiry  ;  and  that 
^  the  Gift  of  Interpretation,  undemanding  Lan-" 
rinses,  and  the  Creatures,  is  not  a  Gifc  of 
mftificatton  ;  but  fuch  as  is  common  to  un- 
"  fanfilified  Men,  and  efpecially  to  make  Men 

*  ¥  f     f     | 

uferlu 


" 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         26$ 

«  ufeful  to  others,  and  publickly  ferviceable  to  the 
"  Godly  where  they  live. 

"  Lajlly  confider,  whether  it  be  not  a  moil  vile 
"  Abufe  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  to  make  it  a  Pa- 
"  iron  and  Shelter  of  Idlenefs.     GOD  fets  Men 
tf  to  fearch  the  Scriptures,  to  feek,  and  cry,  and 
"  dig,  for  Knowledge  ;     to  inquire  of  Teachers, 
"  and  one  another  ;     to  meditate,  and  ftudy  the 
"  Scripture,  Day  and  Night,  that  their  profiting 
"  may  be  known  to  all  :     And  thefe  wretched 
te  Souls  will  not  only  difobey  GOD,  and  indulge 
"  the  Flefli  by  Eafe  and  Idlenefs  ,•   thinking  thefe 
"  laborious  Studies  too  dear  a  Price  to  pay  for 
Knowledge,  or  too  hard  a  Means  to  ufe  in  Sub- 
ferviency  to  the  SPIRIT  :     But  befides  this  car 
nal  Contempt  of  the  Light,  they  will  reproach 
"  thofe  that  are  more  diligent  and  ftudious  than 
"  themfelves,  and  moft  impudently  lay  their  own 
"  Fault  on  their  Teachers,  calling  them  lazy  Drone? 
"  and  idle,   becaufe   they   fpend   their  Life    and 
"  Strength  in  moft  laborious  Studies,  and  fearch- 
"  ing  of  the  Scripture: — And  which  is  the  very 
"  Top  of  their  Wickednefs,  they  dare  father  all 
"  this  upon  the  SPIRIT  ;     as  if  Labour  and  Study 
"  were  needlefs,  becaufe  they  have   the  SPIRIT. 
"  Is  it  not  enough  for  you  to  defpife  GOD  and 
"  his  Word  by  your  fiefhly  Eafe  and  Idlenefs,  re- 
"  fufing  to  ftudy  and  meditate  on  Scripture,  Day 
"  and  Night,  but  you  muft  alfo  blame  them  who 
"  are  at  more  Pains  than  yourfelves  ;     yea,  im- 
"  pudently  blame  them  for  your  Fault   of  Idle- 
"  nefs  ;     yea,  and  pretend  the  SPIRIT  for  all  this 
«  Wickednefs.     No  Wonder  if  GOD  be  aveng'd 
"  on  fuch  Dealings  by  giving  you  up  to  a  SpiriP 
^  that  doth  indeed  befriend,  and 'own  youvCourfe.'* 


26V  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 

Another  Infbnce  of  undue  Dependance  on  the 
SPIRIT,   is  that  which  oppofes  a  diligent  Ufe   of 
appointed  Means.     And  fuch  too  commonly  is  the 
Dependance  of  thefe  Times.     It  has  been  declared 
from  the  Pulpit,  and  by  one  of  the  famous  Preach 
ers  too,  in  the  new  Way,  that  "  for  Minifters  to 
advife  Perfons    under  Concern   to  pray   to  GOD, 
and  apply  themfelves  to  the  reading  the  Scriptures 
for  Light  and  Direction,  is   the   worft  A-hice    that 
could  be  given  ,•     nay,  as  bad  as  the  Devil  himfelf 
could  give."     And  if  a  celebrated   Minijler  could 
venture  publickly  to  fpeak  after  this  Manner,  'tis 
no  Wonder,  if  fome  of  the  Exhorters  have  been 
heard,  in  Difcourfe  with  Perfons  under  Convicti 
on,  to  advife  them,  not  to  fray.     I  know  the  Plea 
is,  that  the  Thing  mean't  by  this  Advice  is,"That 
People  fhould  not  reft  in  their  Prayers,  and  Ob- 
fervances  of  the  Means  of  Religion."     But  whe 
ther,  (as  Mr.  TURELL  juftly  remarks*)  "   Thofe 
"  who  deliver  fuch'  unfafe  Paradoxes  are  always 
"  careful  (at  the   Time  of  it)  to  diftinguifh  and 
"  interpret,  may  be  qtieflioned.    '  Some  worthy 
*c  Gentlemen  (now  in  thefe  Parts)  who  have  been 
"  difcourfed  with  by  me  and  others,  fay,  they  are 
"  wanting/'     And  'tis  too  well  known  to  need  a 
lahour'd  Proof,  that  fome  Preachers  as  well  as  Ex- 
horters,  have  expreft  themfelves  in  a  moft  unguard 
ed  Manner  upon  this  Point  ;     and  fo  as  to  lead 
People  into  an  unhappy  Miflake,  as  to  their  Ufe  of 
the  Means  of  Divine  Appointment. 

For  'tis  certainly  a  Mifhrke,  and  a  dangerous 
one  too,  for  any  to  depend  on  the  SPIRIT,  fo  as 
to  negle£l  an  Attendance  on  Means.  No  one  that 


*  See  his  Dialogue,  2  Edit.  P.  i<5, 

has 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.        265* 

has  the  Bible  in  his  Hands,  and  will  Jook  into  it 
without  Prejudice,  can  be  at  a  Lofs  to  know,  that 
GOD  has  appointed  certain  Means  to  be  attended 
in  Order  to  the  Obtainment  of  that  Help  from  the 
SPIRIT  which  is  needed  :  fuch  as  Prayer,  read 
ing  and  hearing  GOD's  Word,  and  the  like.  And 
thefe  being  Duties  of  divine  Inftitution,  it  can't  be 
fuppofed,  when  we  are  call'd  to  depend  on  the 
SPIRIT,  it  is  in  fuch  a  Senfe  as  to  exclude  thefe 
Duties,  or  render  an  Obfervance  of  them  infigni* 
ficant.  This  would  be  to  oppofe  the  SPIRIT' s  In 
fluence  to  the  Appointments  of  GOD,  and  make -one 
Part  of  the  Scripture  contradict  another  ;  which  is 
grofly  abfurd. 

Some  may  imagine,  it  is  more  for  the  Honour 
of  the  bleffed  SPIRIT  to  afcribe  the  Sinner's  Cm-{ 
verjion  to  him  abfolutely,  and   in    Oppqfition  to   alt 
Means  ;     but   this   is  to   be   wife    above   what   is 
written  ;     yea,  contrary  to  what  is  written.      'Tis 
to  fet  the  SPIRIT  OF  GOD,  and  the  INSTITU 
TIONS  OF    GOD   at   variance  with  each  other  ; 
which  can  never  be  for  the  Honour  of  the  divine 
SPIRIT.     'Tis   true,  GOD  may  -be  fought  of  them 
who  asked  not  for  him,  and  may  be  found  of  them  who 
fought  him  not :  But  this  is  not  the  ordinary  Method, 
in  which  he  gives  his  SPIRIT  to  effect  a  Work  of  Grace 
in  the  Hearts  of  Sinners.  The  common  Way  is  in  the 
Ufe  of  appointed  Means  :     Nor  is  there  Ground  of 
Hope,  in  the  Revelations  of  GOD,  to  be  faved  a- 
ny  other  Way.     'Tis  indeed  Prefumptlon  to  expect. 
GOD  will  be  fought  of  us,  if  we  don't  feek  to  him* 
He  may  manifeft  himfelf  to  us  ;"    but  we  have  no 
Reafon  to  hope  that  he  will  ;     yea,  all  Hopes  of 
this  Kind  are  unfcriptural,  as  having  no  Bottom  in 
the  Word  of  GQD  :      And  notwithftanding  any 
fuch  Hopes,  we  may  pfcrifh  in  our  Sins  ;    and 

what 


266  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

what  is  more,  the  Hazard  will  be  infinite,  left 
this  mould  be  our  unhappy  Cafe. 

The  lafl  Inftance  of  this  undue  Dependence,  is 
that  which  reflects  Dif/jonoiw  upon  the  written  Re 
velations  of  GOD.  And  who  is  ignorant,  how  com 
mon  it  has  been,  in  the  paft  Months,  to  throw 
Contempt  on  the  Scripture,  under  the  Pretence  of 
being  guided  by,  the  SPIRIT  ?  The  Talk  of  ma 
ny,  upon  this  Head,  has  been  juft  like  that  of 
Entkufiafls.  Says  the  Letter  to  Mr.  TURELL,  * 
"  Many  afiert,  that  the  Bible  is  of  no  Service  to 
"  the  unregenerate  ;  and  tho'  they  iliould  read 
"  it,  while  in  a  State  of  Nature,  they  underfland 
"  no  more  of  it  than  a  Stone.  —  They  likewife 
"  maintain,  that  the  receiving  Light  and  Comfort 
*c  is  a  fiifficient  Evidence  of  a  Man's  good  Eftate ; 
tf  And  he  may  depend  upon  it,  without  examin- 
*'  ing  whether  it  be  agreable  to  the  written  Word.''' 
And  in  another  Letter,  in  the  fame  Book,  among 
the  Irregularities  of  thes  Times,  this  is  mention 
ed,  f  "  People's  fpeakirg  of  the  My  Scriptures 
"  verycontemptuoiijly,  as  if  they  were  a  dead  Letter, 
"  and  it  were  not  worth  while  for  the  unconvert- 
"  ed  to  confult  them."  And  it  has  been  too  often 
fuggefted,  "  as  tho'  the  Word  of  GOD  was  need- 
"  'left  to  fuch  as  have  the  SPIRIT."  And  what 
indeed  is  the  Language  of  thofe  inward  Whifpers, 
and  extraordinary  fpmtual  Motions ',  which  fo  many, 
pretend  to  in  thefe  Days,  but  that  they  are  above 
the  Scripture,  as  having  a  better  and  more  fafe 
Guide,  even  the  SPIRIT  himfelf  ?  And  no 
Wonder,  if,  with,  them,  the,  Scripture  Is  held  in 
Contempt. 


Se&his Dialogue,  2Edition.Page  19.   fPage  20, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         267 

It  may,  perhaps,  feem  to  fuch  as  though  they 
magnified  the  blejfed  SPIRIT,  while  they  fo  de 
pended  on  his  Suggestions  and  Influences,  as  to  make 
thefe  their  chief  Guide  in  all  Things.  But  what  if 
the  Influences  'they  take  to  be  from  the  SPIRIT, 
are  the  Fancies  of  their  own  Minds,  or  Suggestions 
of  Satan  transforming  himfelf  into  an  Angel  of  Light  ? 
Who  is  their  Guide  now  ?  And  inftead  of  Ho 
nour,  is  not  horrid  Reproach  reflefted  on  the  Divine 
SPIRIT  ?  And  is  there  no  Danger  of  fuch  a 
Miftake  ?  Han't  it  been  common  in  the  World  ? 
What  Age  has  there  been,  fince  the  Times  of 
the  dpoftles,  wherein  many  have  not,  in  this  Way, 
deluded  themfelves  ?  And  may  not  this  always 
be  expe&ed  to  be  the  Cafe,  when  fuppos'd  Influ* 
ences  of  the  SPIRIT  are  fet  up  in  the  Room  of 
Scripture,  and  made,  inftead  of  that9  the  Guide  in 
Matters  of  Salvation  ? 

It  ought  to  be  remembred,  'Tis  the  SPIRIT  OF 
GOD  who  fpeaks  in  the  Scripture.  Though  holy 
Men  wrote  it,  it  was  not  of  their  own  Heads  ; 
but  as  both  moved  and  infpired  by  the  HOLY  GHOST. 
'Tis  not  therefore  the  Word  of  Man,  but  of  the 
Divine  SPIRIT  ;  and  as  fuch,  ought  to  be  re 
curred  to,  as  the  only  fare  Rule  in  Matters  of  Re 
ligion.  GOD  has  given  us  no  other  ;  nor  is 
there  any  other  that  may,  with  Safety,  be  relied 
on.  To  the  Law  and  to  the  Teftimony.  PFkat  fay- 
eth  the  Scripture,  ought  to  be  the  Queflion,  not 
only  in  Points  of  Faith  and  Practice,  but  in  all  Pre 
tences  to  Suggestions  and  Manifestations  from  the 
SPIRIT  :  If  they  agree  not  with  this  infallible 
Rule,  they  are  not  from  him  ;  and  we  may  be 
as  fure  of  it,  as  that  he  is  the  Reveakr  of  the 
Things  contained  in  the  Jtibk. 


'Tis 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

'Tis  a  great  Error,  when  Men  have  their  Ima 
ginations  warmed,  or  feel  within  themfelves  flrong 
and  unufual  Impreffions,  at  once  to  conclude  they 
are  under  a  divine  Influence,  and  to  think  and  aft 
accordingly,  without  examining  their  inward  Mo~ 
tions  and  Suggejlions9,bj  the  SPIRIT'S  Declarations 
in  the  Scripture  :  And  'tis  this  that  expofes  them 
to  Delufion  ;  to  deceive  themfelves,  and  to  be 
deceived  by  the  grand  Enemy  of  Souls  :  Nor  is 
there  any  one  Thing  that  has  led  on  to  more  or 
wilder  Extravagances,  both  in  Principle  and  Prac 
tice.^  If  Men  will  haftily  judge  themfelves  to 

be 


•j-  Obfervable  are  the  Words  of  Mr.  JOHN  STILLING- 
FLEET,  fpeaking  of  fuch  as  depend  only  upon  the 
Teachings  of  the  SPIRIT,  ^uithout  the  Word  of  GOD. 
*'  If,  fays  he,  there  be  any  Delufions  in  the  World, 
<c  we  muft  own  this  as  the  BELZEEBUB  among 
"  them.  This  is  the  Mafter-Plot  the  Devil  hath 
**  us'd,  in  late  Times,  to  Jay  Gofpel  Ordinances 
<c  under  the  Brand  of  the  grofleft  Contempt.  Oh  ! 
<c,i:s  an  eafy  Way  to  be  fplntua!y  to  fay  the 
*'  SPIRIT  teaches  5  and  then  we  can  condemn 
<c  all  for  carnal  that  ftick  to  Ordinances,  and  call 

"  thefe  outward  Forms,  beggarly  Elements. Ic  is 

<c  an  encilefs  Delufion,  and  grofly  uncertain  in  the 
<c  very  Foundation,  that  fuch  give  themfelves  up  to, 
*6  who  wait  for  the  SPIRIT'S  Teaching^  without  the 
*c  Word.  For  what  Rule  have  I  to  try  the  SPIRIT 
<c  by,  but  the  Word  revealed,  and  written  in  the 
<c  Scriptures  ?  When  as  CHRIST  fays,  Search  the 
"  Scriptures  ;  and  St.  JOHN,  Try  the  Spirit;,  whe~ 
<c  ther  they  are  of  GOD  or  no.  But  how  fhall  I 
*6  know,  whether  I  am  taught  of  the  SPIRIT,  or 
"  no,  unlefs  the  Word  direct  me  ?  As  for  thofc' 
*'  who  are  deluded  out  of  GOD's  Way  into  this 
"  endlefs  Path  of  Error,  I  look  upon  their  Cafe  as 

fad 


PART    I.         ani  dangerous  Tendency. 

be  under  the  immediate  Guidan.e  of  the  SPIRIT, 
they  willfoon  be  ready  to  fay,  wt/H  the  Hand  of 
GOD  moving  us  within,  .and  the  Impulfes  of  his 


"  fad  and  miferable  ;  and  yet,  it  calls  for  the 
"  Prayers  of  all  their  Friends,  Relations  and  Ac- 
<c  quaintarice."  See  his  Divine  Prefence  in  the 
Places  of  religious  Worjbip,  Page  222,  223,  224. 
To  the  like  Purpofe  he  fpeaks  in  a  few  Pages  pre- 
ceeding,  u  NEW-LIGHT  in  the  Faculty  we  acknow- 
<c  ledge,  NEW-LIGHTS  as  to  the  Objefi  we  rejeft, 
"  as  that,  which -if  once  admitted,  proves  the  un- 
**  controulable  Guide  to  the  groffeft  Delufions.  For 
."  when  once  the  Mind  is  pre-pofleft  with  an  Ex- 
"  peclation  of  fuch  NEW-LIGHTS,  then  any  Sug- 
*c  geftion  of  the  Devil  is  prefently  embraced  in  its 
"  felf,  and  propounded  unto  others,  as  divine 
"  Raptures ,  and  heavenly  Vifions  and  Revelations. 
<£  And  then  how  miferably  forlorn  are  fuch  deluded 
"  Creatures,  when,  they,  by  fuch  Courfes,  tempt 
<c  GOD  to  work  Miracles  for  their  Recovery,  or 
<c  they  are  forever  undone.  For  the  Pretence 
*c  of  the  SPIRIT  in  its  Di&ates  of  Truths, 
<c  befides  and  above  the  Word^  will  fetch  Argu- 
"  ments  from  the  fame  Spirit  to  maintain  them 
"  (  though  the  groffeft  Delufions  )  ;  and  fo,  the 
<c  Word^  and  all  ordinary  Means  of  reducing  fuch 
4<  Souls  to  their  right  Wits  again,  become  wholly 
<€  ufelefs  and  unprofitable.  We  have  had  too  many 
ie  Years  Experience  of  the  difmal  fad  Effecls  of  this 
<c  grand  Principle  of  Enthufiafm^  and  Delufions. 
"  AFRICA  was  never  more  fruitful  of  Montters  of 
"  Nature ',  than  ENGLAND  hath  been  of  Mongers 
"  in  Morality  and  Divinity,  fiflce  fuch  NEW- 
<c  LIGHTS  and  Revelations  bave  been  pwn'd,  and 

**  greedily   entertain'd. Admit   once   of  NEW- 

<c  LIGHTS  and  Fifons  of  the  SPIRIT,  as  they  are 
"  term'd,and  you  cannot  keep  out  the  rnoft  devilifh 
i;  and  damnable  Errors  from  following  after." 

SPIRIT^ 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

SPIRIT,  and  fee  and  know  that  they  are  his,  and 
need  no  other  Proof  of  it  but  their  own  Percepti 
on?  ;  and  when  they  are  come  to  this  Pafs,  they 
are  got  beyond  the  Reach  of  fober  Argument  ; 
They'll  deipife  all  Applications  to  their  Under- 
ft  anting  :  And  if  they  retain  any  Regard  to  the 
Scripture,  'tis  only  in  that  Senfe  they  fancy  they 
are  taught  to  underfland  it,  by  the  Immediate  Di 
rection  of  the  SPIRIT  ;  and  'tis  not  the  Scripture 
(whatever  they  may  pretend)  that  is  their  Rule, 
but  their  fuppofed  Dictates  from  the  SPIRIT.  Tbefe 
are  placed  in  the  Room  of  Scripture,  and  the  Scrip" 
ture  regarded  only  as  it  may  be  interpreted  to  fall 
in  with  thefe.  And  having  thus  a  Rule  fuperior 
to  the  Bible,  even  the  immediate  Teaching  of  the 
Holy  SPIRIT,  they  are  prepared  for  whatever 
Delnfions,  a  heated  Imagination,  or  fubtle  Devil,  may 
fuggeil  to  them  under  the  Difguife  of  divine  Com 
munications  ;  and  this,  in  Oppofition  to  the  clear- 
eft  Dictates  of  Reafon,  as  well  as  the  exprefs  Re 
velation  of  GOD.  How  many  Enthifiafts,  vainly 
conceiting  they  were  extraordinarily  taught  and 
guided  by  the  SPIRIT,  have  gone  on  from  one  Ab- 
furdity  to  another,  'till  they  have  appear 'd  to  the 
World  to  be  quite  wild  ?  There  is  fcarce  any 
Thing  fo  extravagant,  but  they  have  been  the 
Patrons  of  it,  and  under  the  Notion  too  of  being 
immediately  inftru6led  by  GOD  to  do  fo. 

'Tis  therefore  exceeding  dangerous  for  any  to 
truft  to  any  fuppsfed  Influences,  Dictates,  or  Sttggef- 
tions,  from  the  SPIRIT,  to  the  Neglect  of  the  Scrip- 
ture  ',  much  more  in  Oppofition  to  it.  This  has 
never  yet  fail'd  of  leading  Perfons  into  Error  : 
And  the  EfFeft  will  be  the  fame  now  as  it  always 
has  been  ;  and  it  is  indeed,  in  fome  Meafure, 
feen  to  be  fo  among  our  felves.  We  fnould 

therefore 


£ART    I.         dwTdangerous  Tendency:        271, 

therefore  be  upon  our  Guard,  confider  the  Scrip 
ture  as  the  Revelation  of  the  bleffed  SPIRIT,  and 
make  it  the  grand  Rule  by  which  to  try,  not  only 
our  Experiences,  but  all  our  fuppos'd  fpiritual  Sug- 
geftions,  reje&ing  them  as  Bblufions,  if  they  accord 
not  with  this  only  Teft  of  what  we  .are  to  receive  as 
coming  from  GOD. 

I  A  fourth  Error  of  the  Times  is,  the  making  Af- 
furance  effential  to  Conversion.  This,  one  of  the 
moft  zealous  Preachers,  in  the  new  Way,  was  fo 
far  from  denying,  when  it  was  publickly  menti- 
on'd  f  as  an  Error  prevailing  in  thefe  Days,  that 
he  rather  owns  the  Charge  by  faying,*  "  For  my 
"  Part,  I  believe  alfo,  that  there  is  no  true  Be- 
"  liever,  but  hath  Affurance  for  fome  Space  of 
"  Time,  longer  or  fhorter  ;  fo  that  he  could  once 
"  fay,  He  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed;  and  that 
"  he  had  faffed  from  Death  to  Life." 


But  whoever  the  Perfons  be,  who  teach  this 
Do6lrine,  they  offend  againjl  the  Generation  of  GOD'X 
Children  ;  many  of  whom  do  walk  in  Darknefs, 
labouring  of  Doubts  and  Difficulties,  and  even  go 
out  of  the  World  with  prevailing  Fears,  left  they 
iliould  not  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  — — 

The  Caufes  of  thefe  Doubts  are  various. Some 

Times,  a  humbling  Senfe  of  their  own  Unworthinefs 
may  be  fo  ftrong  upon  their  Minds  as  to  prevent 
their  taking  that  Comfort,  which  really  belongs 
to  them  ;  and  which  others  take,  who  have  no 
better  a  Right  to  it  than  they.  And  a  humble 


f  Mr.  TURELL'S  Direction  to  his  People,  Page  u. 
*  Mr.  CROSSWELL'S  Letter  to  Mr.  TURELL, 
Page  10. 

Chriflian, 


272  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

ChrifHan,  afraid  to  hope  fo  well  of  himfelf  as  he 
may  have  Reafon  to  do,  is,  in  my  Opinion,  a 
much  better  Man  than  he  that  is  bold  and  confi 
dent  ;  efpecially,  when  he  has  not  been  over-ex 
emplary  in  his  Life  and  Converfation. —  Some 
times^  even  very  good  Men  may  be  under  Mif- 
takes  about  the  Evidence  of  a  good  Eft  ate,  thinking 
that  neceflary  which  is  not  ;  and  not  having 
bad  Experience  of  what  they  faljly  fuppofe  ne- 
ceflary,  walk  in  Darknefs.  —  Sometimes,  there 
may  be  undefirable  Out-Breakings  of  Corruption; 
where  there  is  not  the  reigning  Influence  of  it  ; 
and  no  Wonder,  when  this  is  the  Cafe,  if  Men 
are  in  Perplexities  about  their  State.— Sometimes, 
a  Senfe  of  the  Danger  of  deceiving  themfelves  may 
keep  very  good  Chriftians  too  much  under  the 
Power  of  Fear.  They  deny  not,  that  they  are 
poffeft  of  that,  which  looks  like  Faith,  and  Repen 
tance,  and  New-Obedience  ;  but  they  are  difpos'd 
to  be  jealous  of  themfelves,  in  an  Affair  of  fuch 
infinite  Importance.  Others  have  been  deceived, 
and  why  may  not  this  be  their  unhappy  Lot :  They 
can't  be  too  flow,  nor  cautious,  they  imagine,  in 
a  Conclufion  upon  which  their  eternal  Salvation 
depends.-— Sometimes  they  may  neglecl  the  pro 
per  Means  of  coming  to  a  true  Gofpel  AJJurance  ; 
placing  fudden  Whifpers,  immediate  Impuljes,  in  the 
Room,  of  ferious  Self -Examination  :  And  not  hav 
ing  that  Experience  of  thefe  they  expected,  they 
are  under  Clouds.  —  Sometimes,  there  is  an' 
unhappy  Mixture  of  Melancholly  in  the  Tempers 
of  good  People;  and  they  are  herefrom  inclin'd, 
efpecially,  at  Times,  to  turn  every  Thing  againil 
themfelves,  to  their  being  over- whelmed  with 
gloomy  and  groundlefs  Fears. — 

But 


• 

PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         275 

But  whatever  be  the  Caufe,  whether  the  Things  I 
have  mentioned,  or  any  other,  it  is  a  real  Truth, 
that  good  Men  may  be  in  the  dark  about  their  fpiri- 
tual  Condition.  So  it  was  under  the  Old-Tefta- 
ment  ;  and  no  Reafon  can  be  given,  why  it 
may'nt  be  fo  in  the  Times  of  the  GofpeL—  The 
Scripture  no  where  makes  Affurance  to  be  of  the 
Effence  of  favlng  Faith  :-—  Nor  was  it  ever  tho't 
to  do  fo,  by  any  of  thofe  experienced  and  found 
Divines,  whole  Memory  has  been  precious  in  our 
Churches.  The  WESTMINSTER  Affembly  fpeak  upon 
the  Matter  in  thofe  peremptory  Words,*, 77; is  infal 
lible  Affurance  doth  not  Jo  belong  tQ  the  Effence  of 
Faith,  but  that  a  true  Believer  may  wait  long,  ami 
conflicl;  with  many  Difficulties,  before  he  be  Partake? 
cf  it.  And  thefe  are  the  very  Words  in  which 
the  Elders  and  Meffengers  of  thefe  Churches  exprefl 
their  Faith  upon  this  Head,  in  the  Year  1680  f  ; 
as  they  had  done  it  before,  when  convened  ac 
CAMBRIDGE,  in  1648.  And  it  may  be  worth  No 
tice,  the  firft  Synod  that  was  ever  aflembled  in 
this  Country  ;  and  a  famous  Synod  it  was,  con 
fiding  of  thePaftors  of  the  Churches  of  the  MASSA| 
CHUSETTS-BAY,  with  many  worthy  Meffengers ;  and 
all  of  them  original  Planters  :  I  fay,  the  firft  Sy 
nod  in  this  Country  declare  it  to  be  an  Error  to 
fay,  £  "  That  a  Man  is  not  effectually  converted, 
"  'till  he  hath  full  Affurance  ;"  and  confute  it  as 
fuch  in  the  following  Words,  "  This  is  crofs  to 


*  See  their  Confe/ton  of  Faith,  Chapt.  18.  Se<£  3. 
And  Confirmation  of  this  Truth,  from  ijohn  5.  13, 
Ifa.  50.  10.  Mark  9.  24.  Pfal.  68.  throughout,  and 
77  to  the  12  Verfe. f  See  the  NEW-ENG 
LAND  Cinfejjion  of  Faith,  Chapt.  18.  Sea.  3. 

J  See  the  Bijiory  of  the  Rife  and  Ruin  of  dnrinomiaq~ 
ifm,  &c.  P,  13. 

T  Serif  ture^ 


274  Things  of  a  bad 

"  Scripture,  Ifa.  50.  10.  Wherein  we  fee,  that, 
"  a  iVian  may  truly  fear  GOD  (  therefore  truly 
"  coi,  verted  ),  and  yet  walk  in  Darknefs,  without 
"  clear  Evidence,  or  full  Affurance" 

A  fifth  Error  is,  the  connecting  a  Knowledge 
of  the  Time  of  Converfion  with  the  Thing  itfelf,  as 
though  there  couid  not  be  the  one  without  the 
other.  It  will  not  be  denied,  that  this  has  been 
the  Way,  in  which  many  have  talk'd  in  thefe 
Times  ;  and  Abundance  of  ferious,  good  People, 
who  could  not  fix  the  precife  Time,  when  they 
fuppofe  they  were  converted,  have  been  deemed 
Hypocrites  by  their  Neighbours  :  And  if  they 
han't  eritertain'd  fuch  a  Thought  of  themfelves, 
their.  Minds  have  been  perplext  with  needlefs 
Fears  and  Scruples. 

I  fay,  with  needlefs  Fears,  becaufe  the  Know 
ledge  of  the  Time  of  Converfion  is  a  Circninftance 
only,  and  therefore  feparable  from  the  Change  it- 
.feif  :  And  it  actually  is  feparated  from  it  in  many 
Inftances,  or  there  will  be  no  Room  for  the  Ex- 
ercife  of  Charity,  in  Refpeft  of  fome  of  the  bed 
of  Chriftians,  fo  far  as  \ve  are  able  to  judge.  ..... 

But  I  have   elfewhere  fpoken   largely  upon  this 
Head,  and  therefore  go  on   to  fay, 


A  fjxth  Error  is,  the  vilifying  of  good 
And  who  does  not  know,  that  this  is  too  general 
ly  the  vSpirit  of  thefe  Times.  A  Man  muft  be  a 
great  Stranger  to  the  religious  State  of  Affairs  in 
the  Land,  who  is  unacquainted  with  the  contemp 
tuous  Manner,  in  which  good  Works  have  been 
fpoken  of  by  many.  The  Expreffions,  publickly 

delivered 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendecy.        [$75 

delivered  upon  this  Head,  have  been  raih  and  un 
guarded,  almoft  beyond  Example.  I  have  myfelf 
been  prefent,  in  a  large  AiTembly,  when  the 
.Preacher  (and  he  would  take  it  ill  not  to  be  tho't 
a  firft-rate  one  too)  fpake  of  good  Works,  with  a 
loud  and  vehement  Voice,  in  that  Style,  your  dbo* 
minable,  filthy,  curfed  good  Works  :  At  the  fame 
Time,  alluring  the  People,  "  that  if  they  did  good 
Works  they  would  be  damned  ;  and  the  more  of 
them  they  did,  the  more  they  would  be  damned  :" 
And  this,  without  explaining  himfelf  upon  the 
Matter,  and  fo  as  that  I  could ^not  but  judge,  the 
Tendency  of  wiiat  he  faid,  was  to  lead  People  into 
a  miftaken  contemptuous  Thought  of  good  Works* 
And  the  Preaching  of  fome  other  Minifters  has 
been  too  much  in  the  fame  Strain  ;  infomuch, 
that  thofe  weightier  Matters  of  the  Law,  Judgment, 
Mercy,  and  Faith,  are  become  low  in  the  Efteern 
of  many  :  Nay,  to  fuch  a  Height  are  Numbers, 
among  our  new  Converts,  grown  in  their  pretend 
ed  Spirituality,  that  they  can  fcarce  bear  to  hear 
a  Sermon  upon  the  Subject  of  good  Works  :  "And 
the  Minifler  that  dares  pradlice  .upon  the  infpired 
Command  of  the  Apoftle  PAUL,*  In  affirming  con* 
Jtantly,  that  they  which  have  believed  in  GOD  might 
be  careful  to  maintain  good  Works,  may  be  fure  of 
being  branded  with  the  opprobrious  Name  of  an 
ARMINIAN  :  Nay,  the  Apoflle  JAMES  himfelf  is 
too  legal  for  thefe  fpiritual  Chrifrians  ,•  and  if 
they  an't  very  much  abus'd,  they  have  fome  of 
them,,  given  him  the  Character  of  an  ARMINIAN, 
and  voted  his  Epiftle  not  worthy  a  Place  in 
cred  Canon. 


Tit.  3.  8, 


276  Things  of  a  bad  PARTI. 

Nor  is  this  Contempt  of  good  Works  peculiar  to 
the  frefent  Day.  It  was  the  Fault  of  fome,  even 
in  the  firft  Times  of  the  GofpeL  The  Apoftle  JUDE§ 
lakes  Notice  of  certain  Men,  who  had  crept  in  una 
wares,  turning  the  Grace  of  GOD  into  Lafcivioufnefs. 
And  St.  PAUL  has  thefe  fame  Abufers  of  the  Doc 
trine  of  Grace,  feveral  Times  in  his  Eye.  Hence 
thofe  PafTages  in  his  Epijiks.^  Shall  we  continue 
in  Sin  that  Grace  may  abound  ?  GOD  forbid  !  And 
again,*  Shall  we  fin  becaufe  we  are  not  under  the 
Law,  but  under  Grace  ?  GOD  forbid  !  And  yet 
again,}  Is  CHRIST  the  Minijler  of  Sin  ?  i.  e.  on 
Account  of  the  Sinner's  free  Justification  thro'  his 
Right eoufnefs  :  GOD  forbid  ! 

And  fuch  has  been  cc  the  WickeSitefs  of  fome, 
"  and  the  Weakness  of  others,  (  as  Mr.  FLAVEL 
"  exprefTes  it  ff )  that,  in  all  Ages,  Men  have  au- 
"  dacioufly  broken  in  upon  the  Doftrine  of  free 
*c  Grace,  and  notorioufly  violated,  and  corrupt- 
"  ed  it,  to  the  great  Reproach  of  CHRIST,  Scan- 
"  dal  of  the  World,  and  hardening  of  the  Ene- 
"  mies  of  Reformation.  Behold  ( faid  CONTZEN 
"  the  Jefuit )  the  Fruit  of  Proteftanifm,  and  their 
"  Go/pel  Preaching." 

In  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  under  the 
Pretence  of  exalting  CHRIST,  and  free  Grace,,  Mul 
titudes  ran  quite  wild,  throwing  the  utmoft  Con 
tempt  on  the  divine  Law,  both  in  Word  and  Deed. 
CALVIN  mournfully  obferves  of  thofe  Times,** 
"  That  under  Pretence  of  Chriftian  Liberty,  they 
trampled  all  Godlinefs  under  Foot." 

§  Verfe  4.  of  bit  Ep'iJUe.  f  Rom.  6.  I.  *  Verfe 
15.  J  Gal.  2.  17.  ff  2  Vol.  Page  662.  **  In 
Lib.  aduerfus  Liber  tin  >  Cap.  2. 

And 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        277 

And  thus  it  was  in  this  Country  above  an  hun 
dred  Years  ago  ;  and  in  our  Nation  at  the  fame 
Time,  and  for  many  Years  after.  It  was  com 
mon  to  hear  it  then  faid,  "  that  GOD  could  not 
fee  Sin  in  Believers  ;"  that  "  they  were  not  o- 
blig'd  to  be  forry  for  Sin,  or  to  beg  the  Pardon 
of  it,  becaufe  pardoned  before  committed  ;"  that 
"  CHRIST  by  taking  their  Sins  became  as  finful 
as  they,  and  they  by  having  his  Righteoufnefs  as 
i  righteous  as  he  ;"  that  "  CHRIST  has  repented, 
and  believed,  and  obeyed  for  them,  and  in  their 
Stead,  and  therefore  that  they  are  not  under  O- 
bligations  to  thefe  Things."*  Bp  HOPKINS  ob- 
ferves  it  of  thefe  ANTINOMIANS,  f  "  That  they 
"  think  the  Grace  of  GOD  is  fo  free,  as  to  fu- 
cc  perfede  all  Neceffity  of  working  for  it,  or  with 
"  it  ;  aud  that  it  is  enough  for  us  to  fit  (till 
"  and  admire  it,  and  fo  to  be  hurried  away  to 
"  Heaven  in  a  Dream  :  Nay,  fome  have,  upon 
"  this  Principle,  arrived  to  that  Height  of  Blaf- 
<f  phemy  as  to  affirm,  that  we  can  never  fo  much 
"  glorify  free  Grace  as  when  we  make  Work  for 
"  it  by  flout  finning." 

I  would  not  be  underftood  to  charge  thefe 
Things,  upon  thofe,  among  our  felves,  who  have 
fpoken  contemptuoufly  of  good  Works  ;  though 
I  am  not  without  Fear,  I  own,  left  they  fhould 
be  carried  away  with  the  like  Errors.  The  Spirit 
too  generally  prevailing,  at  this  Day,  is  certainly 
the  'fame  for  Kind  with  that,  which,  in  former 


*   Vid.RuTHERFURD's  Survey  of  fpiritual 

where  there    is  a  large   Colledtion   of  fuch   Stuff  as 
this,  from  their  Writings, 

t  His  Works.     Page  458.. 

Times, 


278  Things  of  a  bad.  PART     L 

Times,  reflected  fo  much  Difgrace  on  Religion, 
and  was  the  great  Obftacle  in  the  Way  of  it's 
Progrefs.  The  old  ANTINOMIANS  began,  at  firfl, 
with  much  the  fame  Language  about  the  Law  and 
good  Works,  that  is  now  in  Ufe  :  And  it  was 
gradually  that  they  arriv'd  at  thofe  Heights  of 
Extravagance,  for  which  they  have  juftly  been 
ftigmatifed.  And  is  there  no  Danger,  left  this 
ihould  be  the  Cafe,  with  many,  in  thefe  Days  ? 
The  Danger  is  greater  than  we  may  be  aware 
of. — Some  are  already  grown  quite  wild  ;  and, 
if  the  Miftakes  of  many  others  are  not  in  Time 
rectified,  they  may  increafe  in  their  Malignity, 
and  be  of  fatal  Confequence  to  the  Intereft  of 
Chriflianity  in  thefe  Churches. 

I  doubt  not,  but  a  Number  of  thofe,  who  have 

fpoken,  in  a  very   unguarded   Manner,  of  good 

Works,   are   ferious,    honeft  Perfons,    having   at 

Heart  the  Honour  of  GOD  and  the'  REDEEMER. 

Their  Abhorrence  of  the  Error  of  placing  Works 

in  the  Room  of  CHRIST,  or  free  Grace,  may  have 

led   them  into  a  dangerous  Extream,    the  other 

.  Way.'     So  it  was  at  the  Reformation.     Through 

an  indlf creet  Zeal  againft  the  Papifts,  who  had  cor* 

rupted  the    Do6i:rine  of  Juftification   by  the  free 

Grace  of  GOD,  through  the  Right eoufnefs  of  CHRIST, 

"  They  almoft  bended  (as  Mr.  FLAVEL  exprefles 

<c  it  f)  the  Grace  of  GOD  as  far  too  much  the  o 

"  ther  Way,  and  fpake,  and  wrote,  many  Things 

(C  very  unbecoming  the  Grace  of  GOD,  and  tend- 

"  ing  to  Loofenefsi  and  a  Negleft  of  Duty"     And 

there  is  always  Danger  of  thus  running  from  one 

Extream  to  the  other  :     And  this  is  that  where* 

in  Satan  has  commonly  gain'd  an  Advantage,  to 

t  His  Works,    Vol.  i.  Page  663, 

the 


PART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendencfy.         279 

the  Hindrance  of  the  -flourilhing  of  Truth  and 
Holme's. 

I  fault  none  for  a  Care  to  diflinguifli  between 
good  Works  in  a  Gofpel-Senfe,  and  fucli  as  may  be 
fo  term'd,  only  becaufe  die  Matter  of  what  is 
done  is  good.  Let  Men  fpeak  as  ftrongly  as  they 
pleafe,  againft  thofe  Works  as  evangelically  good 
ones,  which  proceed  from  a  View  to  the  Appuufe 
of  the  World,  or  the  Profpe6t  of  foroe  temporal 
Advantage  ;  or,  that  are  only  the  meer  out-ward 
Afts  of  Piety,  Honefhy,  Generofity,  Chanty,  and 
the  like  ;  or,  that  have  no  higher  Rife  tnan 
carnal  Nature,  however  civilifed  and  poiiihed. 
Thefe  are  not  good  Works  in  a  religious  Senfe  ; 
and  Men  ought  to  be  plainly  told  fo  :  Nor  can 
Works  be  gcoi,  (in  the  Senfe  I  am  now  confider- 
ing  them)  only  as  they  proceed  from  a  Principle 
of  Faith  in  CHRIST,  and  fuch  a  Temper  of  Soul  as 
will  argue  Men  to  be  the  Children  of  GOD,  and  born 
from  above. 

Neither  would  I  be  underftood  to  blame  any 
for  their  Chriflian  Endeavours,  that  the  Grace  uf 
GOD,  and  Merits  of  CHRIST,  might  have  the  whole 
Honour  that  is  due  to  them  in  the  great  Affair  of 
Man's  Salvation. 

'Tis  plain  from  the  Scriptures,  that  we  are-^u- 
ed  by  Grace.  To  Grace  do  they  always  lead  up 
our  Thoughts,  as  the  original  eternal  Source  of 
Mans  Salvation.  To  this  do  they  always  afcrihe 
Salvation,  ANTECEDENT  to  all  other  Caufes  and  Con- 
federations,  of  whatever  Nature,  or  Kind  ;  and 
in  a  Senfe  fo  glorious  and  exalted,  that  had  it  not 
been  for  this,  we  never  fllould,  never  could  have 
been  faved. 

T  4 


280  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

'Tis  plain  likewife  from  the  Scriptures.,  that  we 
are  favcd  by  CHRIST.  He  was  the  glorious  Perfon 
who  lay,  in  the  Counfels  of  GOD,  as  the  Founda 
tion  in  the  Scheme  of  Man's  Redemption  ;  He 
k  was  that,  in  the  Fulnefs  of  Time,  appear'd  ,in 
the  World,  in  Fafhion  as  a  Man,  and  did,  and 
fuffff&d)  all  that  was  neceflary  in  Order  to  make 
Way  for  the  Recovery  of  undone  Man  ;  and 
'tis  with  a  View  to  HIM,  for  HIS  SAKE,  and  on  HIS 
ACCOUNT,  that  the  Sinner  is  justified  and  faved. 
Thefe  Bleflings  are  made  over  to  him,  only  in 
Confederation  of  the  mediatorial  Performances  and 
Sufferings  of  the  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  :  This  is  the 
true  Reafon  of  their  Beftowment,  in  Oppofetion  to 
all  Warh  of  Right  eoufnefs,  that  he  ever  did,  or 
was  capable  of  doing,  to  recommend  him  to  the  Fa 
vour  of  GOD, 

And  'tis  as  plain  from  the  fame  Scriptures,  that 
Salvation  by  Grace,  through  CHRIST,  is  in  the 
Way  of  Obedience  ;  fuch  an  Obedience  as  pro 
ceeds  from  a  Heart  purified  by  Faith,  and  purged 
frorfi  dead  Works  to  ferve  the  living  GOD.  This  is 
evidently  the  Doftrine  of  the  BIBLE. —  It  makes 
no  Provifion  of  Mercy  for  Sinners  continuing  fuch  ; 
but  poiltively  excludes  them  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven,  notwithstanding  the  Grace  of  GOD,  and 
the  Merits  of  the  REDEEMER.  The  Texts  to 
this  IJurpofe  are  fcattered  all  over  the  Writings 
of  the  Evangelifts  and  dpoftles  :  Nor  is  there 
any  Room  for  Difpute  upon  the  Matter. ' 

Nor  is  there  the  lead  Inconfiftency  between 
the fe  Scripture-Doctrines  :>  and  we  may  be  fure,  we 
miftake  their  Meaning,  if  we  interpret  them  fo 
as  to  make  them  daft  with  one  another.  Nei 
ther  the  Grace  of  GOD,  nor  the  Merits  of  CHRIST, 

take 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         281 

take  away  the  Necejfity  of  a  koly  Life,  in  Con 
formity  to  the  Preempts  of  the  Gofpel  :  And 
'tis  fo  far  from  honouring  the  Grace  of  GOD,  -or 
the  Merits  of  the  REDEEMER,  to  fuppofe  fuch  a 
Thing,  that  it  cafts  Reproach  upon  them  both. 
'Tis  to  feparate  between  thofe  Things,  which  GOD 
has  join'd  together,  f. 

Men  may,  'tis  true,  place  good  Works  in  the 
Room  of  CHRIST,  or  of  divine  Grace  ;  and  fo  they 
may,  under  Pretence  of  exalting  CHRIST,  and  Grace, 
entertain  the  Notion  as  tho'  good  Works  wereneed- 
lefs.  And  in  either  of  thefe  Cafes,  Diflionour  is 


J  Worthy  of  Notice  are  the  following  Words  of  Mr. 
BAXTER.  Says  he,  "  If  you  fet  up  the  Duties  of 
"  the  Gofpel  in  CHRISTs  Stead,  you  err.  CHRIST 
"  hath  his  Place  and  Work  ;  DUTY  hath  its  Place 
*c  and  Work  too.  Set  it  but  in  its  own  Place,  and 
<c  expecl:  from  it  but  its  own  Part,  and  you  go 
*'  right  ;  yea  more,  (how  unfavoury  foever  the 
<e  Phrafe  may  feem)  you  may  fo  far  as  this  comes 
<e  to,  truft  to  your  Duty  and  Works,  i.  e.  for  their 
<6  own  Part.  For  if  Duty  have  no  Share,  why 
"  may  we  not  tntf  CHRIST  in  a  Way  of  Dif- 
*c  obedience  as  well  as  of  Duty.  In  a  Word, 
"  you  muft  both  ufe,  and  truft  Duty  in  Subordi- 
<c  nation  to  CHRIST  ;  but  neither  ufe  it,  nor  truft 
*'  it  in  Co-ordination  with  him.  So  that  this  dero- 
*e  gates  nothing  from  CHRIST  ;  for  he  has  done, and 
<c  will  do  all  his  Work  perfectly,  and  enableth  his 
<4  People  to  do  their's  :  Yet,  he  is  not  properly  faid 
<{  to  do  it  himfelf.  He  believes  not,repents  not,  &c; 
<c  but  worketh  thefe  in  them. i.e.  enableth  and  excit- 
ce  eth  them  to  do  it.  No  Man  muft  look  for  more 
*6  from  Duty,  than  GOD  hath  laid  upon  it :  And 
fo  much  we  may  and  muft.  Vid.  BAXTER'S 
Vol.  3.  Page  ii. 

done 


282  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

done  to  the  REDEEMER,  and  that  Grace  of  GOD, 
which  'tis  impoffible  ihouW  give  Countenance  to 
a  Negleft  of  the  Duties  of  Religion.  Whattho* 
good  PForks  are'  not  the  Motive  to  Salvation,  but 
the  free,  unmerited  Mercy  of  GOD  ?  What  though 
'tis  not  for  the  Sake  of  good  Works ',  that  we  are 
juftified,  but  on  Account  of  the  Righteoufnefs  of 
CHRIST  ?  Does  this  argue  that  good  Works  are  not 
neceflary  in  other  Refpe6ls  ?  They  are  fo  in.  re- 
fpe6l  of  the  Appointment  of  GOD  : "  Nor  was  this 
Appointment  a  meer  arbitrary  Thing,  but  plainly 
founded  in  the  Wifdom  of  the  divine  Government. 
'Twas  not  fitting  thatGODfhould  faveMen  in  their 
Sin-,  that  he  fhould.  receive  them  to  Heaven,  while 
going  on  in  Rebellion  againfl  his  fovereign,  rightful 
Authority :  Yea,  it  would  be  repugnant  to  all  the 
Conceptions  we  have  of  GOD,  as  a  Being  infinite 
ly  wife,  and  jufl,  and  holy,  for  him  to  grant  it 
to  Ms  Kind  of  Perfons,  to  fit  down  with  the  LORD 
JESUS  in  his  Kingdom.  In  this  View  of  the  Mat 
ter,  what  mud  we  think  of  his  Holinefs  and  Juf- 
tice  ?  What  would  become  of  his  Authority  as 
Governour  among  the  Nations  ?  What  more  ef- 
feftual  Method  could  be  taken  to  lead  Men  to 
think,  there  was  no  Difference  between  moral  Good 
and  Evil^  That  Finite  was  of  no  Account  in  the 
Eye  of  Heaven,  and  that  the  Diftinftion  between 
that  and  Fice,  was  not  worthy  to  be  regarded  m 
Men's  Conduft  of  themfelves?  And  indeed,  what 
would  they  have  to  fear,  either  from  the  Petfefti 
ons9  or  Government  of  GOD  ?  And  inflead  of  be- 
ing  under  Reflraint  from  Sin,  would  they  not  be 
very  much  at  Liberty  to  follow  their  own  Inclina 
tions,  and  to  live  and  aft  jufl  as  they  were  mov'd 
by  carnal  Nature  ?  But  far  be  it  from  our  Tho'es 
to  fuppofe,  that  the  alwife  and  good  GOD  would 
allnr/  of  fuch  a  State  of  Things.  He  never  would, 

.he 


PART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         283 

he  never  could  :     He  has  a  greater  Regard  to 
his  own  Honour,  and  the  Welfare  of  Man. 

But  beficles  all  this,  that  Temper  o/  Mind  which 
always  was,  and  will  be,  a  never-failing  Source  of 
good  Works ,  is  previoufly  neceflary,  in  the  Na 
ture  of  Things,  in  Order  to  a  Meetnefs  for  the 
Happinefs  of  the  heavenly  World.  This  is  an  in 
tellectual,  rational  Kind  of  Happinefs  ;  confiding 
in  the  Contemplation  of  the  divine  Perfections, 
ardent  Love  to  the  blefTed  GOD,  and  a  perpetual 
Employment  in  his  Service.  But  can  thofe  take 
Pleafure  in  contemplating  the  Glories  of  the  infi 
nitely  perfecl  Being,  the  Temper  of  whofe  Souls 
is  fo  carnal,  as  to  have  the  highejl  Relifh  for  the 
Things  of  Time  and  Senfe  ?  Can  they  place  their 
intire  Delight  in  GOD,  who  have  fo  fond  an  Af- 
fe£tion  for  that  abominable  Thing  which  his  Soul 
hates  ?  Or,  is  it  poffible  they  fhould  be  happy 
in  ferving  GOZ),  Night  and  Day,  without  Interrup 
tion  forever,  the  Bent  of  whofe  Minds  is  turned 
quite  another  Way  ?  Light  can  as  well  have  Com* 
muni  on  with  Darknefs,  or  CHRIST  with  Belial. 

And  let  not  any  imagine,  that  CHRIST,  by  obey 
ing  the  Law  in  our  Stead,  has  made  void  the  Ob 
ligations  we  are  under  to  conform  to  it,  in  our 
nvn  Perfons,  as  a  Rule  of  Life.  The  BIBLE,  that 
facred  Teft  of  all  religious  Truth,  gives  not  the 
lead  Encouragement  to  any  fuch  licentious  Senti 
ments,  On  the  contrary,  it  every  where  repre- 
•Tents  our  Obligations  to  Obedience  as  mightily  in-, 
hanced,  on  Account  of  CHRIST,  and  what  he  has 
done  andfiffired.fbr  finners.  Nor  is  there  fo  ftrong  an 
"Argument  to  enforce  religions  Practice,  as  thatwhich 
is  fetcht  from  the  bleeding  and  dying  of  the  SON  of 
GODj  when  he  flood  in  the  Place  of  miferable, 

fmful 


284  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

finful  Man.     'Tis  indeed  the  great  Gofpel- Argument 
to  Repentance  and  a  good  Life ;  and  of  mofl  weight 
and  perfiiafive  Influence  to  this  Purpofe.     And  fo 
far  were  the  Apoftles  of  our  LORD,  from  thinking 
Men  difcharged  from  their  Obligations  to  obey 
the  Law,  on  the  Account  of  CHRIST,  or  any  Thing 
he  has  done,  or  fuffered  for  them,  that  they  par 
ticularly  mention  it,  as  one  of  the  great  Ends  of: 
his  giving  himfelf  for  us,  that  f  he  might  redeem  us 
from  all  Iniquity,  and  purify  to  himfelf  a  peculiar  Peo- 
fie,  zealous  of  good  Works  :    Nay,  the  Reafon  ex- 
prefly  given,  why  he  had  the  Name  JESUS  called 
upon  him  was  that,  f  For  he  /hall  fave  his  People 
from  their  Sins.     And  the  Apoftle  peremptorily  deJ 
clares,  *  it  was  for  this  Purpofe  the  Son  of  GOD  was 
manifefted,  that  he  might  dejlroy  the  Works  of  the  De-: 
vil.     'Tis  therefore  a  bafe  Reflection  on  CHRIST, 
and  the  great  Defign  of  his  Undertaking  for  Sin 
ners,  to  entertain  a  Thought,  as  thoY  by  his  Obe 
dience,  he  had  taken  away  the  NeceJJlty  of  ours^ 
The  infpir'd   PAUL   was  quite  of  another  Mind., 
For  though  he  concludes,  after  a  Train  of  Rea- 
foning,  §  That  a  Man  is  jujlificd  by  Faith,  without' 
the  Deeds  of  the  Law;  yet  to  prevent  all  Miftakes, 
he  adds  thofe  obfervable  Words  in  the  Verfe,  or 
two  following,  Do  we  then  make  void  the  Law  thro9 
Faith?   GOD  forbid  !  Tea,  we  eftablifh  the  Law. 

And  the  Grace  of  GOD  is  fo  far  from  encourag 
ing  a  Negleft  of  good  Works,  that  it  is  one  of  the 
itrongeft  Excitements  to  the  Performance  of  them. 
It  applies  to  our  Ingenuity ,  and  is  wonderfully  a- 
dapted  to  foften  the  Heart,  and  render  the  moil 
flubborn  Will  pliant  and  yielding.  And  if  'tis  the 

f  Titus  2.  14.     f  Matt.  i.  21.   *  i  John  3.  8- 

§  Rom.  3.  28. 

Temper 


PART    L        and  dangerous  Tendency.         285 

•  Temper  of  any  to  take  Occafion  from  the  Grace 
of  GOD  to  fin  againft  him,  rather  than  love  and 
obey  him,  they,  of  all  Men,  have  the  lead  Right 
to  be  look'd  upon  as  good  Chriftians.     The  Tho't 
of  continuing  in  Sin,' under  the  Pretence  of  exalt 
ing  free  Grace,    the  Apoftle  rejefts    with  a  GOD 
'  FORBID  !  And  well  he  might,  for  it  argues  a  moft 
»  accurfed  Frame  of  Mind.     'Tis  a  vile  Abufe  offered 
to  the  gracious  and  merciful  GOD.     'Tis  a  being 
;  evil  becaufe  he  is  good.     It  difcovers  a  Mind  loft 
'to  all  Senfe   of  Gratitude,    and  that  is  bafe  and 
;  fordid  to  the  laft  Degree.  — •  But  I  may  not  en- 
;  large.     To  go  on, 

The  laft  Error  I  (hall  mention  is  that,  which  de 
cries  Sanftification  as  an  Evidence  of  Justification. 
None,  I  believe,  will  deny,  that  this  is  a  common 
Tenet,  in  thefe  Times.  It  has  been  pleaded  for 
in  Print.  And  'tis  indeed  the  known  Charafteriftick 
of  a  thorow-pac'd  new  Convert. 

This  was  one  of  the  Errors  prevailing  in  this 
Country,  foon  after  its  firjl  Settlement ;  and  as  it  was 
withftood  and  condemn'd  by  the  whole  Body  of  theje 
Churches,  aflembled  at  CAMBRIDGE  by  their  Elders 
and  MeJJengers,  I  {hall,  inftead  of  offering  any 
Thing  of  my  own,  tranfcribe  what  THEY  then 
faid  in  Confutation  of  it. 


Jf  A  Man  cannot  evidence  his  purification  by  his 
fanftification,  but  he  mud  needs  build  upon  his  Sanfti- 
f  cation,  and  trujt  to  it,"  was  one  of  the  Principles  of 
the  Opinionifts  in  that  Day ;  which  the  Synod  con 
fute  thus.  ^'Firft,  This  is  contrary  to  i  Joh.  3 

f  The  Hijtory  of  the  Rife,  &c  of  Antinomianifm 
&c  in  this  Country.    Pag.  15. 


286*  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  18,  19.     Where  the  HOLY  GHOST  faith,   that 
"  by  unfeigned  and  hearty  Lov&'we  may  have  A$ur-\ 
"  ance  ;     and  yet,  neither  there,  nor  any  where, 
"  elfe,  would  have  us  truft  to  our  Sanckification  : 
"  So  Verfe  7.     He  that  doth  "Right  eoufncfs  is  righ- 
"  teous,  as  he  is  righteous.      Secondly,  If  Poverty 
"  of  Spirit,  which  emptieth  us  of  all  Confidence 
"  in  ourfelves,  may  evidence  a  Man's  Justification, 
"  without   trufting  to  it,   then  may   Sanftification  l| 
<c  without  trujting  to  it  ;     but  the  former  is  true,.! 
"  therefore  alfo  the  latter.-    /Thirdly,  If  it  be  an" 
«  Ordinance  of  GOD  to  evidence  our  Juftification* 
"  by  our  San&ificafioh,  then  we  may  do  this  with-  ] 
"  out  trujling  to  it  ;     but  that  is  apparent  from '. 
"  2  Pet.  3.  10.     Ergo.'9 

Another  of  their  Principles  was,  "  That  it  is  a 
Fundamental,    and    Soul-damning  Error,    to  make ' 
Santtification  an  Evidence  of  Jujtification  :"     Upon! 
which  the  Synod  exprefs  themfelves  thus,*  "  1'his i 
"  is  contrary  to   thefe  Scriptures.     Rom.    8-    n. 
"  They  that  walk  after  the  SPIRIT,  are  freed  from 
"  Condemnation,  and  are  in  CHRIST,  and  fq  fafti\ 
"  fed.     So,   i  John  3.   10.     In  this  are  the  Chit-1 
"  dren  of  GOD  manifeft,  and  the  Children  of  the 
^  Devil  :     H^hofoever  doth  not  Right eoufnefs  is  not* 
"  of  GOD." 

Another  of  their  Notions  was,  "  That  the] 
SPIRIT  giveth  fuch  full  and  clear  Evidence  of  my 
good  Eftate,  that  I  have  no  Need  to  be  tried  by 
the  Fruits  of  Sanftification  :  This  were  to  light 
a  Candle  to  the  Sun  :"  To  which  the  Synod  an- 
fwer,f  <f  This  Opinion,  taken  in  this  Senfe  that 
"  after  the  SPIRIT  hath  teilified  a  Man's  good  E- 

*  Ibid.  P.  i(5.     f  Ibid.  P.IbidT 

ftatc, 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         287 

«  ftate,  the  Perfon  need  ^ not  to  be  tried  by  the 
'"  Fruits  of  Sanfiification,  is  contrary  to  the  Scope 
"  of  the  whole  firjl  Epiftle  of  St.  JOH^  ;  where 
i"  Variety  of  Arguments  are  propounded  to  all 
"  Believers,  in  common,  to  diftinguiih  the  Perfons 
"  of  Believers  from  Unbelievers,  i  John  5.  13. 
"  Thefe  Things  have  I  written  unto  you  that  believe 
*f  on  the  JName  of  the  SON  of  GOZ),  that  ye  may 
"  KNOW  that  ye  have  eternal  Life.  The  Water  is 
"  annexed  to  the  SPIRIT  and  Bloody  i  John  5. 8." 

Another  of  their  unaccountable  Fancies   was, 
"  That  SanCiification  was  fo  far  from  evidencing  a 
good   Eftate,   that   it  darkens  it   rather  ;     and  a 
Man    may  more    clearly  fee    CHRIST,    when  he 
Teeth  no  Santlification,  than  when  he  doth  :  The 
darker  my  Santlification  is,  the  brighter  is  my  Juf- 
tification"     Tne  Reply  is,*  "  This  is  contrary  to 
"  the  Scripture  of  Truth,  which   rather   giveth 
"  the  Name  of  Light  to  Sanftification  "and  Holi- 
"  nefs,  and  even  for  this  Ufe,  to  clear  our  Jufti- 
'*•*  fication,  i  John  i.  ,j5, 7.     1^ or  the  HOLY  GHOST 
<c  concludes,  as  from  a  clear  and  infallible  Pro- 
•"  mife,  and  Propofition.,  that  if  we  walk  in   the 
c  Light,  as  he  is  in  the  Light,  then  doth  the  Blood 
'  of  CHRIST  cleanfe  us  from  all  Sin  ;     meaning, 
'  that  then,  and  thereby,  it  appeareth,  that  it  is 
ic  done  :    'As  on  the  contrary,  Unholinefs,  and  un~ 
IC  My  Walking,  is  like  Datjkwfs,  which  obfcureth. 
l<  ail   tho  goodly   Prefumption,    Flourifiies,    and 
"  Hopes,  of  an  unregeherate  Man,  Verfe  6.   For 
"  this  Purpofe,  (i  John  5.  8.)     The  Water  of 
"  Sanctification   is   made    a  Witnefs  :     Now    the 
"  Mature  of  a  Witnefs  is  not  to  darken  and  ob- 
"  fcure  Matters  in  Queftion,  but  to  clear  them. 

*  Ibid.  P.  17. 

"  And 


288  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 


<c  And  when  DAVID  (Pfalm  51.  10,  u,  12.) 
"  his  Heart  fo  unclean,  and  his  Spirit  fo  altoge- 
"  ther  out  of  Order,  his  Jiiflification  was  not  then 
"  brighter  ;  for  then  he  fhould  have  had  the 
"  Joy  of  his  Salvation  more  full,  and  not  fo  to  • 
"  fink,  as'  that  he  begs  it  might  be  reftored  to 
"  him  ;  as  implying,  that  his  Joy,  for  the  pre- 
te  fent,  was  wanting  to  him." 

And  one  of  the  Sayings  in  that  Day  was,"Here 
<c  is   a  great  Stir  about  Graces,   and  looking  to 
<c  Hearts  ;     but  give  me  CHRIST.     I  feek  not  for 
"  Graces,  but  for  CHRIST  ;     I  feek  not  for  Pro- 
"  mifes,  but  for  CHRIST  ;     I  feek  not  for  Sanfti- 
"  fication,  but  for  CHRIST  ;     Tell  me  not  of  Me- 
"  ditation  and  Duties,  but  tell  me  of  CHRIST."  To 
which  the  Synod  fubjoin,  f  "  This  Speech  feem- 
*'  eth  to  make  a  flat  Oppojition  between  CHRIST 
«'  and  his  Graces,  contrary  to  that,  in  John  i.  16. 
"  Of  his  Fulnefs  we   all  received,   and   Grace  for- 
*'  Grace.     And  between  CHRIST  and  his  Proniifes,: 
«c  contrary  to  Gal.  3.  13,  14.     CHRIST  was  made! 
"  a  Curfe,  that  we  might  receive  the  Promife  of  the] 
"  SPIRIT  ;     And,  Luke  i.  70.    with  74.     And] 
cf  betwixt  CHRIST  and  all  holy  Duties,  contrary  to'; 
"  Tit.  2.14.     And  therefore  holds  forth  Expreffi-; 
"  ons  not  agreeing  to  wholfome  Doftrine." 

In  fine,   another  of  their  Sayings  was,   cc  If! 
CHRIST  be  my  Sanclificatiou,  what  need  I  look  to  : 
any  Thing  in  my  felf,  to  evidence  my  Juftification.'" 
Upon  which  the  Synod  obferve,*  "  This  Pofltion 
"  is  therefore  unfound,   becaufe   it  holds  forth 
"  CHRIST  to  be  my  Sanki fication,  fo  as  thai  I  need 
S  not  look  to  any  inherent  Holinefs  in  my  felf  ; 

f  Ibid.  P.  21.    *  Ibid.  P.  22. 

"  whereas 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         289 

<c  whereas  CHRIST  is  therefore  faid  to  be  our 
"  Sanftification,  becaufc  he  works  Sanftificaiion  in 
"  us  y  and  we  daily  ought  to  grow  up  in  him, 
"  by  receiving  new  Supply,  and  Increafe  of  Grace, 
"  from  his  Fulnefs,  according  to  2  Pet.  3.  18. 
"  Grow  in  Grace,  and  in  the  Knowledge  of  our  LORD 
"  JESUS  CHRIST. 

But  as  this  is  an  Error  unhappily  fpreading  a- 
mong  People,  and  of  fatal  Tendency,  I  mall,  as 
a  further  Guard  againft  the  Infection  of  it,  be  at 
the  Pains  to  lay  before  the  Reader,  what  two 
Divines,  of  great  Repute,  in  thefe  Churches,  have 
faid  in  Confutation  of  it. 

The  firft  is  Mr.  SHEPARD.  He  liv'd  in  the 
Times,  when  this  Error  was  rife  in  the  Country  ; 
and  he  has  ftrongly  teftified  againft  it,  particular* 
ly  in  his  Parable  of  the  ten  Virgins.  Says  he,  * 
"  The  Teftimony  of  the  SPIRIT  does  not  make  a 
€t  Man  a  Chriilian,  but  only  evidences  it  :  As  'tis 
(f  the  Nature  of  a  Wilnejs^  not  to'  make  a  Thing 
"  to  be  true,  but  to  clear  and  evidence  it.  And 
"  therefore,  whether  the  SPIRIT,  in  the  frft,  or 
66  fecond  Place,  clears  GOD's  Love,  I  difpute  not  ; 
"  becaufe  'tis  doubtful  :  Yet  be  fare  you  find 
46  out  the  Difference  ;  viz.  SOME  WORK  IN  YOU, 
"  that  no  Hypocrite  under  Heaven  has  :  Elfe 
• "  what  Peace  can  you  have  ?"  And  a  little  on 
wards,  "  The  great  Doubt  of  GOD's  People  is 
"  not  only,  am  I  elefted  ?  Am  I  juftified,  and 
"  accepted  ?  But  am  I  called  ?  Am  I  fanftifi- 
"  ed  ?  Are  not  my  Defires,  my  Faith,  my  Love, 
"  counterfeit  ;  which  I  may  have,  and  yet  go 
*<  to  Hell  ?  Now,  the  SPIRIT,  when  he  comes, 

*  Vid.  P.  136,  137. 

V  clears 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  clears  tip  all  Doubts,  not  fully,  but  gradually  ; 
"  for  'tis  the  moft  clearing  Witnefs  :  And  there- 
c  fore,  John  14.  18,  19,  20.  At  that  Day,  you 
*f  fhall  know,  that  I  am  in  you,  and  you  in  me,  and 
**  I  in  tke  Father.  The  SPIRIT  does  not  only  fay, 
<c  CHRIST  is  out  of  you  in  Heaven,  preparing  and 
ct  interceeding  ,•  but  in  you,  fanftifying,  prepar- 
"  ing  thee  for  Glory,  who  art  a  Veflel  of  Glory  ; 
*c  and  you  in  me  by  Faith,  by  JLove,  Defire,  &c* 
c<  Now,  when  a  Man  ihall  fay,  JT  look  to  no  Work, 
«<  but  only  for  the  SPIRIT  to  reveal  the  LORD'S 
<c  Love  ;  in  feeming  to  defire  the  SPIRIT,  he  doth 
«  refifl  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD."  And  in  a  few  Pa 
ragraphs  following.  "  Jf  you  look  to  the  SPIRIT 
"  without  a  JF<?r£,  whilft  you  do  feek  Confolation 
"  from  the  SPIRIT,  you  cannot  avoid  the  Condem- 
cc  nation  of  the  ff^orj.  You  fay,  the  SPIRIT  has 
"  given  Peace  to  you :  But  do  you  love  CHRIST  ? 
"  I  look  not  to  that,  but  to  the  SPIRIT  ;  why, 
"  the  Word  fays,  he  that  loves  not  him,  let  him  be 
"  Anathema.  So,  is  the  League  between  your 
<c  Sins  and  your  Souls  broken  ?  I  look  not  to 
cc  that  :  Why,  JOHN  faith,  he  that  committeth  Sin 
"  is  of  the  Devil,  i  John  9.  8,  p.  Are  you  new 
"  Creatures  ?  I  look  not  to  that  :  Why,  the 
"  Word  faith,  Unlefs  you  be  born  again,  you  cannot 
c<  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of  GOD.  And  the  LORD 
"  knowsj  but  on  your  Death-beds,  thus  Satan  may 
•c  aifauk  you  ,•  and  then  the  LORD  will  fay, 
*€  nay,  look  to  your  felf.  The  Word  fliall  be 
**  BELSHAZZAR'S  Terror.  Confider  Pfalm  32.  i.  2." 
And  yet  more  plainly  a  Page  or  two  further,  "A 
c;  Man  is  firft  a  Believer,  and  in  CHRIST,  and  juf-  / 
«  tified,  called,  fan&ified,  before  the  SPIRIT  does . 
"  Mftnefi  it  :  Elfe  the  SPIRIT  mould  witnefs  to 
"  an  Untruth,  and  a  Lie.  For  Unbelievers  are 
«  wider  Wrath.  If  the  SPIRIT  does  not  witnefs 

this 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         291 

4<  this  peculiar  Work  to  be  in  you,  and  clear  it  up 
"  to  you,  tell  me,  how  you  can  efcape  Anguifh 
"  of  Confcience,  and  the.  Terrors  of  Hell  in  your 
"  Heart,  unlefs  Confcience  be  feared,  and  blind- 
"  ed  ?  When  the  LORD  mall  fet  Confcience  to 
"  ask,  and  fay,  I  cbufe  none  but  whom  I  call  ;  I 
"  call  none  but  whom  I  juftify  ;  I  juftify  none 
"  but  whom  I  fanftify,  and  that  not  with  a  com- 
"  mon,  but  peculiar.  JVork  ;  is  it  fo  with  you  ? 
"  If  it  be  dark,  or  doubtful,  can  you  but  think 
"  all  your  JOYS  have  been  DREAMS  ;  and  your 
"  WITNESS,  DELUSIONS  :  Therefore  look  to  this. 
«  —-If  you  do  not,  you  have  no  Peace.  For 
"  the  LORD'S  Sake,  do  it  before  Fire  try  you,  or 
ic  you  ftand  fcorching  before  the  Tribunal  of 
**  GOD. — If  you  defpife  lVor\^  you  defpife  Pro- 
"  mifes,  and  fo  defpife  CHRIST  ,•  and  the  LORD 
"  knows  what  Ufe  you  may  have  of  them  before 
"  you  die." 

The  other  is,  the  excellent  Mr.  FLAVEL,  who 
has  very  clearly,  and  ftrongly,  expreft  himfelf 
upon  this  Point.  Speaking  of  the  ANTINOMIANS, 
he  fays,f  "  They  deny  SdnElificatim  to  be  the  E- 
vidence  of  Justification  ;"  and  reafons  againft  the 
Tenet  in  the  following  Words,*  "  (i)  I  grant  in- 
4C  deed,  that  many  vain  Profeflbrs  do  cheat,  and 
<f  deceive  themfelves,  by  falfe,  unfcriptural  Signs 
c<  and  Evidences,  as  well  as  by  true  ones  mifap- 
"  plied.  (2)!  grant  alfo,  that  by  Reafon  of 
"  the  Deceitfulnefs  of  the  Heart,  Inftability  of 
<e  the  Thoughts,  fimilar  Works  of  common  Grace 
«  in  Hypocrites,  Diftra6lions  of  the  World,  Wiles 
4<  of  Satan,  Weaknefs  of  Grace,  and  Prevalency 
"  of  Corruption  :  The  clearing  up  of  our  Jufti- 

f  His  Wor\s>  Vol.  i.  Page  1678.     *  P.  Ibid. 
V  2  ficatiw 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

"  ficatlon  by  our  San$ification,  is  a  Work  that  meets 
"  with   great  and  manifold  Difficulties  ;     which 
"  are  the  Things  that  mofl  Chrifrians  complain 
"  of.     (3)  I  alfo  grant,  that  the  Evidence  of  our 
t(  Juftification  in  this,  or  any  other  Method,  is 
"  not  eflential,    and  abfolutely   neceflary,   to  the 
"  being  of  a    Chriftian.       A  Man   may    live   in 
*c  CHRIST,  and  yet  not  know  his  Intereft  in  him, 
(f  or  Relation  to  him,  Ifa.  50.  10.     Some  Chri- 
"  ftians,  like  Children  in  the  Cradle,  live,  but  mi- 
"  derfland  not   that  they  live  ;     are  born  to   a 
"  great  Inheritance,  but  have   no  Knowledge  of 
"  ic,  or  prefent  Comfort  in  it.     (4)  I  will  further 
"  grant,  that  the  Eye  of  a  Chriilian  may  be  too 
"  intently  fixt  upon  his  own  gracious  Qualificali- 
ff  ons  ;     and  being  wholly  taken  up  in  the  reflex 
ff  A6ls  of  Faith,  may  too  much  negledl  the  dire  ft 
"  Acls  of  Faith  upon  CHRIST,  to  the  great  Detri- 
"  ment  of  his  Soul. 

"  But  all  this  notwithftanding,  the  Examinati- 
"  on  of  our  Jujlification  by  our  Sanffification,  is 
"  not  only  a  lawful,  and  poffible,  but  a  very  excel- 
"  lent  and  necejjhry  Work  and  Duty.  'Tis  the 
4C  Courfe  that  Chriilians  have  taken,  in  all  Ages  ; 
"  And  that  which  GOD  hath  abundantly  bleft 
u  to  the  Joy,  and  Encouragement  of  their  Souls. 

"  He  hath  furniihed  our  Souls,  to  this  End, 
"  withxnoble  felf-reflecling  Powers,  and  Abilities. 
"  He  hath  anfwerably  furniflied  bis  Word  with 
"  Variety  of  Marks  and  Signs,  for  the  fame  End 
"  and  Ufe.  Some  of  thefe  Marks  are  exclufive* 
"  to  dete6l  and  bar  bold  preftimptuous  Pretend- 
"  ers,  i  Cor.  6.  9.  Rev.  21.  8.  27.  Some  are 
"  inclujive  Mark?,  to  meafure  the  Strength  and 
<c  Growth  of  Grace  by,  Rom.  4.  20.  And  others 

"  are 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        293 

"  are  pofitive  Signs,  flowing  out  of  the  very  Ef- 
"  fence  of  Grace,  or  the  new  Creature,  i  John  4. 
"  13.  Hereby  we  know,  that  we  dwell  in  him,  and 
"  he  in  us,  becaufe  he  hath  given  us  of  his  SPIRIT. 

'"  He  hath  exprefly  commanded  us  to  examine 
(f  and  prove  ourfelves  ;  upbraided  the  Negle6t- 
"  ers  of  that  Duty,  and  enforced  their  Duty  up- 
"  on  them  by  a  thundering  Argument,  2  Cor.  13. 
"  5.  Examine  yourfehes,  whether  ye  be  in  the  Faith  ; 
<f  prove  your  own  felves  :  Know  ye  not  your  own 
"  felves,  how  that  JESUS  CHRIST  is  in  you,  ex- 
96  cept  ye  be  Reprobates.  In  a  Word,  for  this  End 
"  and  Purpofe,  among  others,  were  the  Scriptures 
"  written,  i  John  5.  13.  Thcfe  Things  have  I 
"  written  to  you  that  believe  on  the  Name  of  the 
"  SON  of  GOD,  that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  e- 
"  ternal  Life.  And  therefore,  to  neglect  this  Duty 
"  are  exceeding  dangerous  ;  but  to  deny  and  de- 
"  ride  it,  intolerable.  It  may  be  juftly  feared, 
"  fuch  Men  will  be  drown'd  in  Perdition,  who  fall 
"  into  the  Water,  by  making  a  Bridge  over  them 
"  with  their  own  Shadows. 

"  For  my  own  Part,  I  verily  believe,  that  the 
"  fweeteft  Hours  Chriftians  enjoy  in  this  World, 
(f  is,  when  they  retire  into  their  Clofets,  and  fit 
"  there  conceaFd  from  all  Eyes,  but  him  that 
,"  made  them  :  looking  now  into  the  BIELE,  then 
(e  into  their  own  HEARTS,  and  then  up  to  GOD  ; 
*(  clofely  following  the  grand  Debate  about  their 
"  Inter efl  In  CHRIST,  'till  they  haVe  brought  it  to 
"  the  happy,  defired  Iflue." 

Thefe  now  are  the  had  and  dangerous  Things 

of  the  prefent  Day  ;     for   fo.  I  think  it  juft  to 

fpeak  of  them,  and  not  under  the  foft  Name  of 

V  3  Imprudences  : 


294  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

Imprudences  :  leaving  it  to  the  World  to  judge, 
whether  they  are  not  well  worthy  of  fuch  a  Style. 
Many,  who  are  zealous  for  what  is  call'd,  in  the 
grofs,  the  glorious  Work  of  GOD,  will,  probably, 
be,  "heartily  fick  "  of  the  above  Reprefentation  : 
But  if  they  are  become  "  prejudiced  (  as  has  been 
"  publickly  declared  £  )  againft  the  very  Sound  of 
"  Imprudences  and  Disorders  "  they  may  not  be 
fuppos'd  to  be  in  a  proper  Temper  of.  Mind  to 
receive  the  Truth  >:  Nor  is  it  any  Wonder,  if 
they  have  unhappily  fallen  injo  Miilakes  ;  jufti- 
fying  thofe  Things,  which,  if  they  had  feen  in 
their  true  Light,  they  would  have  condemned. 
Nothing  more  tends  to  blind  the  Mind  than  Pre 
judice;  and  this,  fome  have  been  made  fenfibleof, 
who  could  not  be  brought  to  believe,  the  Dif orders 
In  the  Land  were  fuch  as  had  been  reprefented,  till 
Conviction  was  forced  into  them,  by  what  they 
faw  with  their  own  Eyes,  and  heard  with,  their 
cwn  Ears. 

I  mall  only  fubjoin,  in  Confirmation  of  the  a- 
bove  Accounts,  two  public  Testimonies,  which  I 
can't  but  think  worthy  of  particular  Notice. 

The  firft  is  from  the  Government  of  CONNECTI 
CUT,  in  their  Proclamation,  this  Year,  for  a  general* 
which  runs  thus. 

By  the  honourable  JONATHAN  LAW,  Efq;  Go- 
.*'  vernour  and  Commander  in  Chief,  in  and; 
"  over  his  MAJESTY'S  Colony  of  CONNEC- 


rf  See  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  Book,  on  the  late  Revival 
•of  Religion  in  NEW-ENGLAND.  P.i88. 

TICUT 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        295 

<c  TICUT  in  NEW-ENGLAND.     A  Proclamation 
"  for  a  Day  of  publick  Fading  and  Prayer. 

"  Confidering  the  various  Frowns  of  divine  Provi- 
cc  dence.  Particularly,  the  mortal.  Sicknefs  which  has 
"  prevailed  in  feme  of  our  Towns  ;  the  ^cutting 
"  ft>ort  fome  of  the  precious  Fruits  of  the  Earth  by 
"  the  Drought  in  the  Summer  paft  ;  the  ill  Sue* 
"  cefs  of  our  Troops  in  the  late  Expedition  againft 
tf  the  Spaniflj  Weft-Indies,  in  which  mofl  of  them 
"  have  peri/bed  by  Sicknefs  ;  the  fearful  Profpeft  that 
"  our  Nation  and  all  Europe  may  be  involved  in  a 
"  more  general  and  bloody  War^  which  may  prove 
*'  much  more  fetal  and  di fluffing  to  thefe  Plantations} 
<c  and  the  unhappy  Divifions  and  Contentions 
"  which  ilill  prevail,  both  among  Miniflers  and 
"  People,  in  the  Dodlrines  and  Practice  of  Re- 
"  ligiori,  and  the  bitter  Spirit  of  Uncharitablenefs 
<c  and  Diforder,  which  too  much  prevails  among 
"  all  Orders  in  the  Land  :  All  which  call  for 
"  our  deep  Humiliation  before  the  LORD. 
(f  Conjidering  tikeivife  the  Fruitfulnefs  of  the  Year, 
"  and  all  the  Mercies  we  hope  for,  depend  upon 
"  'the  Bleffing  of  GOD,  wbich  we  ought  humbly  to 
ff  implore. 

"  I  Have  therefore  tho't  fit,  by  and  with  the 
ec  Advice  of  the  Council,  to  appoint  and  do  here- 
"  by  appoint,  Wednefday,  the  thirteenth  Day  of 
"  dprilnext  to  be  obferved  as  a  Day  of  publicFAST- 
"  ING  and  PRAYER  thro'out  this  Colony :  exhort- 
ic  ing  both  Miniflers  and  People  deeply  to  hum- 
"  ble  themfelves  before  the  LORD,  uncler  all  the 
<c  Tokens  of  his  Anger  and  Difpleafure,  and  hum- 

bly  to  confefs  and  bewail  all  our  Sins  which  are 
"  the  procuring  Caufe  of  them  :  PARTICULARLY, 

The  great  Negleft  and  Contempt  ofths  Gofpel  and 
V  4  ti>t 


Tbingf  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

the  Miniftry  thereof,  and  the  prevailing  of  a  Spirit 
of  Error,  Difurder,  Unpeaccablenefs,  Pride,  Bitter- 
nefs,  Uncharitablenefs,  Cenforioufnefs,  Difobedience, 
calumniating  and  reviling  of  Authority  ;  Divijions, 
Contentions,  Separations  and  Confufions  in  Churches, 
Injustice,  Idlenefs,  Evilfpeaking,  LafciviQufnefs9 

"  and  all  other  Vices  and  Impieties  which  abound  a- 

*'  mong  us. 

"  And  that  fervent  Supplication  be  made  toAl- 
u  mighty  GOD,  that  he  would  preferve  and  blefs 
"  our  Sovereign  Lord  King  GEORGE,  their 
"  Royal  High  nefl"es  the  PRINCE  and  PRINCESS 
"  of  Wales,  the  DUKE,  the  PRINCESSES  the  ISSUE 
"  of  the  PRINCE  and  PRINCESS  of  Wales^  and 
(i  the  reft4  of  the  ROYAL  FAMILY  :  That  all 
"  the  public  Affairs  of  our  Nation  may  be  under 
"  the  Conduct  and  Smiles  of  Heaven;  that  GOD 
"  would  direct  and  blefs  his  Majefty's  Councils, 
u  fucceed  his  Arms  in  the  War  he  is  engaged  in ; 
"  that  he  would  mercifully  interpofe  to  flill  the 
"  Jarrs  and  Confufions  of  Europe,  to  prevent  the 
"  Effufion  of  Chriftian  Blood  and  the  dreadful 
u  Calamities"  of  a  general  War  :  That  GOD 
"  would  fmile  upon  and  protect  the  JSnf //&  Planta- 
cc  tions  in  America,  and  efpecially  that  we  in 
"  this  Colony  may  have  all  our  juft  Rights  and 
"  precious  Priviledges  CIVIL  and  SACRED  continu- 
"  ed  unto  us  inviolate  :  That  GOD  would  blefs 
"  our  civil  Rulers,  and  fucceed  all  their  Admini- 
"  ftrations  for  the  Promotion  of  Juftice  and  Pro- 
"  te6lion  of  Religion  :  That  he  would  direft  the 
tf  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  heal  their  Divijions,  and  re- 
"  jlore  Unity  and  Harmony  in  their  Sentiments  and 
tf  Practifes  :  That  Religion  might  flourifh,  and  a 
"  Work  of  Converfion,  vital  Piety  and  true  Holinefs 
(6  might  be  powerfully  carried  on  ;  and  that  all  Er~ 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         297 

"  rors,  Cenforioufnefs,  Divifions,  Separations,  Difor- 
"  ders  and  Confufwns  might  ceafe  and  fuhfide  in  our 
"  Churches  ;  and  that  Love,  Charity,  Peaceablenefs, 
"  Meeknefs,  Humhlenefs  of  Mind  and  other  genuine 
"  Fruits  of  the  Spirit  may  be  manifefl ;  that  Religion 
"  might  appear  in  its  native  Excellency  and  Beauty : 
"  That  GOD  would  blefs  the  COLLEGE,  and  preferve 
<c  Purity  and  Order  in  that  Society  :  That  the 
"  Gofpel  might  flourifh  among  the  Heathen  Na- 
tf  tives  :  That  GOD  would  blefs  the  fucceed- 
<f  ing  Year  with  Health,  Peace  and  Plenty  ;  and 
"  profper  us  in  all  our  Affairs  both  by  Sea  and 
"  Land. 

cc  And  all  fervile  Labour  on  faid  Day  is  hereby 
"  ftriclly  forbidden. 


Given  under  my  Hand  at  the  Council  Chamber 
"  in  New  -Haven,  this  ninth  Day  of  February 
"  in  the  fixteenth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  our 
"  Sovereign  Lord  GEORGE  the  Second,  of 
"  Great-Britain,  &C.  KING.  Annoque  Domini, 


"  1742,3 


y.  LAW. 

GOD  fave  the  KING. 

The  other  Teftimony  is  that  of  the  Paflors  of 
thefe  Churches  y  at  their  late  Convention,  in  this  Town, 
in  thefe  Words, 

"  We,  the  P  }  afters  of  the  Churches  of  CHRIST 
in  the  PROVINCE  of  the  MASSACHUSETTS- 
BAY  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  at  our  annual  Conventi 
on,  May  25th.  1743,  taking  into  Confideration 
feveral  Errors  in  Doftrine^  and  Disorders  in  Practice, 
that  have  of  late  obtained  in  various  Pf.rts  of  the 
Land,  look  upon  our  felves  bound,  in  Duty  to  our 

great 


Things  of  a  bad  PART 


L 


great  LORD  and  MASTER,  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  in 
Concern  for  the  Purity  and  Welfare  of  thefe  Church- 
es,  in  the  moft  public  Manner,  to   bear  our  Tefli-\ 
mony  againft  them. 

I.  As  to  Errors  in  Doftrine  \  we  obferve,   thad 
fbme  in "  our  Land    look   upon    what  are  called 
fecret  Impulfes  upon  their  Minds,  without  due  Re-n 
gard  to  the  written  Word,  the  Rule  of  their  Con- 
duel  ;    that  none  are  converted  but  fuch  as  know 
they  are  converted,  and  the  'Time  when  ;  that  ^f-\ 
furance  is   of   the  Effence  of  faying  Faith   ;    that] 
Sanftificatioti  is  no  Evidence  of  Juftif cation,    with, 
other    ANTINOMIAN  and    FAMILISTICAL  Errors,, 
which  flow  from  thefe :  All  which,  as  we  judge,, 
are  contrary  to  the  pure   Doctrines  of  the  Gofpell 
and  teftified  againft  and  confuted,  by  Arguments^ 
fetched  from  Scripture  and  Reafon,  by  our  venera-5 
ble  Fathers,  in  the  Acts  of  the  Synod  of  Auguftj 
1637  ;     as  printed  in  a  Book  entitled,   The  RifeJ. 
and  Reign,  and  Ruin,  of  ANTINOMIAN  ISM  &;c,  in 
NEW-ENGLAND. 

II.  As  to  Diforders  in  Practice,  we  judge, 

I.  The  Itinerancy,  as  it  is  called,  by  which  CH 
ther  ordained  Minifters,  or  young  Candidates,  go  from 
Place  to  Place,  and  without  the  Knowledge,  or  con*-T 
trary  to  the  Leave  of  theftated  Paftors  in  fuch  Pla 
ces,  afiemble  their  People  to  hear  themfefoes  preach, 
arifing,  we  fear,  from  too  great  an  Opinion  of  them- 
fefoes,  and  an  uncharitable  Opinion  of  thofe  Paftors, 
and  a  Want  of  Faith  in  the   great  Head  of  the 
Churches,  is  a  Breach  of  Order,  and  contrary  to  the 
Scriptures,  i  Pet.  4.  15.     2Cor.io.  12,  to  the  EndJ 
And  the  Sentiments  of  our  Fathers  exprefl  in  thei^ 
Platform  of  Church  Difcipline,  Chapt.  9.  Sect.  6. 

2.  Private 


PART    I,        and  dangerous  Tendency.        299 

2.  Private  Perfons  of  no  Education,  and  but  low 
Attainments  in  Knowledge,  in  the  great  Dodrines 
of  the  Gofpel,  without  any  regular  Call,  under  a 
Pretence  of  exhorting,  taking  upon  themfelves  to  be 
Preachers  of  the  Word  of  GOD,  we  judge  to  be 
an  heinous  Invafion  of  the  miniflerial  Office,  offen- 
five  to  GOD,   and  deftructive  of  thefe   Churches, 
contrary  to  Scripture  Burn's.  16.      iCor.  12.  28,29. 
And  teflified  againft  in.   a  faithful  Advice  to  the 
Churches  of  NEW-ENGLAND  by  feveral  of  our  ve 
nerable  Fathers. 

3.  The  ordaining  and  federating  of  any  Perfons 
to  the    Work  of  the  evangelical  Miniftry,  at  large  ^ 
and  without    any  fpecial    Relation  to  a  particular 
Charge,  which  fome  of  late  have   unhappily  gone 
into,  we  look   upon  as   contrary  to   the  Scriptures, 
and  directly  oppofite  to  our  Platform,    Chapt.     6. 
Seel.  3.     And  the  Practice  of  the  proteftant  Churches, 
as  may  be  feen  in  the  Order  of  the  Churches  vindicated, 
written  by  the  very  Rev.  Dr.  INCREASE  MATHER. 

4.  The  Spirit  and  Practice  of  Separation,  from 
the  particular  Flocks  to  which  Perfons  belong,  to  join 
themfelves  with  and  fupport,  lay  Exhort ers,   or  Iti 
nerants^  very  fubverfive  of  the  Churches  of  CHRIST, 
oppofite  to  the  Rule  of  the  Goipel,  Gal.     5.  19,  20. 
Judever.   19.   i  Cor.  12.  25.   i  Cor.  3.  3.       And 
utterly  condemned   by  our    Platform,     Chapt  13. 
Sect. i.  5.  And  contrary  to  their  Covenant  Engage^ 
ments. 

5.  Perfons  afTuming  to  themfelves  the  Preroga 
tive  of  GOD,  to  look  into   and  judge  the  Hearts  of 
their  Neighbours,  cenfure  and  condemn  their  Brethren, 
efoecially  their  Mini/ten,  as  Pharifees,  Armmians, 

blind 


300  Things  of  a  bad  PART     1.1 

Hind,  and  unconverted,  &c.  where  their  Doftrinesl 
are  agreable  to  the  Gofpel,  and  their  Lives  to  their] 
Chriftian  ProfeiTion,  is,  we  think,  moft  contrary  to] 
the  Spirit  and  Precepts  of  the  Gofpel,  and  the  Ex 
ample  of  CHRIST,  and  highly  unbecoming  the  Cha 
racier  of  thofe  who  call  themfelves  the  Difciples  of 
the  meek  and  lowly  JESUS,  John  13.  34.  35.  i  Sam* 
16.  7.  Matt.  7.  i.  Rom.  14.  10. 

6.  Though  we  deny  not,  that  the  human  Mind, 
under  the  Operation  of  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  may  be 
overborn  with  Terrors  or  Joys  :  yet,  the  many, 
Confufions  that  have  appeared  in  fbme  Places,  from 
the  Vanity  of  Mind,  and  ungoverned  Paflions  of 
People,  either  in  the  Excefs  of  Sorrow  or  Joy, 
with  the  dij orderly  Tumults  and  indecent  Behaviours 
of  Perfons,  we  judge  to  be  fo  far  from  an  Indica 
tion  of  the  fpecial  Pre fence  of  GOD  with  thofe 
Preachers  that  have  induftrioufly  excited  and  coun 
tenanced  them,  or  in  the  Aflemblies  where  they 
prevail,  that  they  are  a  plain  Evidence  of  the  Weak- 
nefs  of  human  Nature  ,•  as  the  Hiflory  of  the  Enthu- 
Jiafms  that  have  appear 'd  in  the  World,  in  feveral 
Ages,  manifefts.  Alfo  i  Cor.  14.23,40.  At  the 
fame  Time,  we  bear  our  Teftimony  againfl 
the  impious  Spirit  of  thofe,  that,  from  hence,; 
take  Occaflon  to  reproach  the  Work  of  the  Diving 
SPIRIT,  in  the  Hearts  of  the  Children  of  GOD. 

Upon  the  whole,  we  earneftly  recommend  the 
Churches  of  this  Country  to  the  gracious  Care  and 
Conduct  of  the  Great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep,  with  our  : 
thankful  Acknowledgement  for  his  merciful  Regard 
to  them,  in  fupplying  them  with  faithful   Paftors, .-. 
and  protecting  them  from  the  Defigns  of  their  E- 
nemies,  and  advancing  his  fpiritual  Kingdom  in  the 
Souls  of  fo  many    from  the  Foundations  of  this 
Country  to  this  Day  ,'  and  where  there  is  anyfpe- 

cial 


'ART     I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         301 

:ial  Revival  of  pure  Religion  in  any  Parts  of  our 

Land,  at  this  Time,  we  would  give  unto  GOD  all 

the  Glory.     And  earneftly  advife  all  our  Brethren 

in  the  Miniftry,  carefully  to  endeavour  to  preferve 

.'their  Churches  pure  in  their  Do&rine,  Difcipline,and 

Manners^  and  guard  them  againil  the   Intrufions 

'of  Itinerants  and  Exhort crs,    and  to  uphold  a  Spi- 

jrit  of  Love  towards  one  another,   and  all  Men  ; 

f  which,  together  with  their  fervent  Prayers,  will  be 

the  moil  likely  Means,  under  GOD,   to  promote 

!the  true  Religion  of  the  Holy  JESUS,  and  hand  it 

uncorrupt  to  fucceeding  Generations." 

Sign'd,  NATHANAEL  EELLS,    Moderator.    In  the 
.     Name,  and  by  Order  of  the  Convention. 

iAnd  now,  if  it  be  Fatt,  as  I  have  given  too 
much  Reafon  to  believe  it  to  be,  that  thefe  BAD 
THINGS  have  prevail'd  in  all  Parts  of  the  Land, 
and  among  all  Sorts  of  Perfons,  the  Anfwer  is,  at 
once,  ready  to  what  has  been  faid,  whether  in 
Vindication  of  fome  particular  Diforders,  or  in  Ex- 
eufe  of  the  whole  taken  together. 

Some  particular  Irregularities  have  been  vindi 
cated  as  Things  right  and  good.  But  how  ? 
Why,  by  flopping  them,  in  a  great  Meafure,  of 
thofe  Circumftances  which  .rendered  them  bad,  and 
fetting  them  forth,  not  as  they  really  are,  but  as 
they  ought  to  be,  or  are  wrongly  fuppofed  to  be  ; 
and  in  this  Way,  reflecting  Blame  upon  the  Com- 
plainers  of  thefe  Things,  inftead  of  fixing  it  where 
it  juftly  belonged,  upon  theThings  themfelves.  To 
illiterate  this  in  a  few  Inilances. 

The  Manner  of  addreffing  to  the  Paffions  of 
People,  in  thefe  Times,  has  often  been  complain 
ed  of  :  But  the  Complaint,  it  is  faid,f  "has  been 


f  Vid.  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  Thoughts  on  the  late  Re 
vival  of  Religion  in  NEW-ENGLAND*    P.  149. 

without 


303  Things  of  a  bad  P  A  R  T    1 

without  or  beyond  juft  Caufe."     And  in  order  to 
make  this  appear,  a  deal  of  Pains  has  been  taken 
*  to  reprefent  the  Propriety  of  applying  to  People 
with  Affeflnm  and  Earneftnefs  about  eternal  Things ; 
ard   not  in  a  dull,  cold,  and  indifferent  Manner. 
And  who  are   the  Perfons  that  ever   thought  o- 
therwife  ?    I  know  of  none,  among  thofe  cailed 
'Oppofers  but  were  always  in  the  Sentiment,  that 
the  Paflions  were  planted  in  the  human  Conftitu- 
tion  for  very  valuable  Ufes  ;     that  it  was  reafona- 
Ik  they  fliould  be  excited  ;     and  that  it  was  one 
Part  of  a  Minifter's  Bufmefs  to  ftir  them  up  to  a 
finable  Exercife.     But  what  is  all  this  to  the  pre- 
fent  Cafe  ?     The  Queftion  is,  whether  it  be'nt  a 
flain,  ftubborn  Faft,  that  the  PaJJlons  have,  gene 
rally  >  in.thefe  Times , been  apply'd  to,  as  though  the 
mairi  Thing  in  Religion  was  to  throw  them  into 
Difturbance?  Can  it  be  denied,  that  the  Preachers, 
who  have  been  the  Inftruments  of  the  Commotions 
in    the  Land,  have   endeavoured,    by  all    Man 
ner  of  Arts,  and  in  all  Manner  of  Ways,  to  raife 
the  PaJJions  of  their   Hearers  to  fuch  a  Height, 
as  really  to  unfit 'them,  for  the  prefent,  for  the 
Exercife  of  their  reafonabk  Powers  ?     Nay,  in  or- 
-der  to  alarm  Men's  Fears,  has  it  not  been  com 
mon,  among  fome  Sort  of  Preachers,  to  fpeak  and 
'aft  after  fuch  a  wild  Manner,  as  is  adapted  to  af 
fright  en  People  out  of  their  Wits,  rather  than  pof- ,, 
fefs  their  Minds  of  fuch  a  Conviftion  of  Truth,  as 
is  proper  to  Men,  who- are  endow'd  with  Reafon>. 
and  Underflandmg  ?     And   under  the  Notion  of 
fpeaking  to  the  Affe^wns^  were   the   Things   of 
GOD   and   another  World,  ever  preached  with '\ 
more  Confufion  of  Thought  ;     with  greater  In-j 
coherence  ;     with  the  undue  Mixture  of  morel 
i  • 

*  Ibid.  P.  149.  aud  onwards. 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        333 

rafh,  crude,  unguarded  Expreffions  ,•  or  with 
Conceit  to  a  higher  Degree,  appearing  in  fulfome 
Self-Applaufes,  as  well  as  unheard  of  Contempt 
of  others  ?  Thefe  are  Things  of  too  publick  a 
Nature  to  be  denied  :  They  have  been  too  often 
pradlifed,  and  in  Places  of  too^  great  Concourfe, 
to  admit  of  Debate.  So  that  it's  only  reducing 
this  Article  of  addreffing  to  the  Paffions  of  People, 
to  the  Teft^of  Faft,  and  it  won't  bear  a  Vindica 
tion  :  Nor  can  thofe  who  have  complained  of  it 
be  faulted,  unlefs  by  placing  their  Complaint  in  a 
wrong  Light. 

Another  Thing  that  has  been  complained  of  is, 
"  The  fpeaking  Terror  to  them  that  are  already 
«  under  great  Terror,  inftead  of  comforting 
"  them."  But  this  Complaint  alfo  is  faid  to  be 

unjuft,-"*  and  in  Order  to  {how  it  to  be  fo,  the 
Way  in  which  Terror  ought  to  be  difpenced  to 
this  Kind  of  Perfons  has  been  opened,f  with  the 
Reftri&ions  under  which  it  mould  be  done.  I 
am  far  from  thinking,  that  what  is  here  faid  is 
unexceptionable  ;  but  fuppofing  it  to  be  fo,  what 
is  it  to  the  Point  ?  The  Matter  in  Debate  is, 
whether  Terror  has  not,  in  Faft9  been  heaped  up 
on  Perfons  already  diftracled  almoft  with  Terror,, 
in  a  Manner  that  juftly  deferves  to  be  blamed  ? 
And  will  any,  pretending  to  be  acquainted  with 
the  late  Managements  in  the  Land,  calmly  deny 
this  ?  Has  no  Method,  but  that  of  a  faithful 
Reprefentation  of  the  Truth  of  the  Cafe  of  fuch 
Perfons,  been  ufed  to  heighten  their  Fears  ?  Has 
not  Voice  and  Aftion,  even  to  an  extravagant  Ex- 
cefs,  been  too  often  repaired  to  ?  Have  no  poor 
iftrefTed  Creatures  been  praftifed  upon,  and  this 

,>  Ibid.  P.  156.     f  P.  Ibid,  and  onwards. 

by 


.304  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I.| 

by  Numbers  at  a  Time,  and  in  Ways  unfit  to  be 
mentioned,  whereby  their  animal  Nature  has  been 
thrown  into  the  moft  horrid  Confufion  ?  I  could 
mention  a  Plenty  of  Inflances  in  this  Kind,  but: 
that  I  rather  chufe  they  Ihould  be  buried  in  per 
petual  Oblivion.  So  that  if  this  Article  alfo  be 
brought  to  the  Truth  of  Faft,  it  may  flill  be  com 
plained  of  with  great  Juilice. 

It  has  {till  been  mentioned  as  an  Objection  a- 
gainft  the  Times, "  that  there  has  been  too  great 
a  Frequency  of  religious  Meetings,  and  too  much 
Time  fpent  in  an  Attendance  on  thefe  Externals 
of  Religion."    But  the  Obje&ion,  it  is  faid,  is  in 
the  general  groundlefs.  f     And  why  ?     Becaufe 
*'  'tis  fit,  that,   at  fuch  an  extraordinary    Time, 
"  when   GOD  appears  uriufually  prefent  with  a 
<f  People,   in    wonderful  Works   of  Power   and 
*'  Mercy,  that  they  fhould  fpend  more  Time  than 
"  ufual  in  religious  Exercifes,  to  put  Honour  up-i 
<f  on  that  GOD  that  is  then  extraordinarily  pre-  ] 
"  fent,  and  to  feek  his  Face*."     And  fuppofe  this  I 
be  allow'd  ;  is  there  notwithftanding  juft  Ground  ; 
of  Complaint  ?     Is  it  not  undoubted  Faft,  that  Peo-  | 
pie  have  generally,  through  the  Land,  gone  into  \\ 
an  Excefs  upon  this  Head  of  attending  Meetings,  ! 
either  public,  or  private,  or  both  ?     Han't  there 
been  too  many  Inflances  of  Houfes  of  Worlhip,  j 
that  have  been  Icarce  empty,  Night  or  Day,  for  ] 
many  Days  together  ?     Han't  it  been  common, 
among  thofe  who   have  been  wrought  upon,  in 
thefe  Times,  to  devote  themfelves,  as  it  were,to  the 
Bufmefs  of  attending  Leftures  and  Meetings,either  to 
J'peak  or  hear,  as  though  herein  lay  the  Sum  of  Religi 
on?  And  han't  this  been  done  by  great  Numbers  of, 

*  Page  Ibid. 

Perfons, 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.        305 

Perfons,  to  the  Negleft  of  their  Callings,  and  the 
-real  Damage  of  their  Families  ?  And  while 
People  have  expended  fo  much  of  their  Time,  in 
attending  the  Preachings  and  Exhortations  of  all 
planner  of  Preachers,  and  Exhwters,  what  has  been 
their  Care  about  thofe  Laws  of  GOD,  which  re 
gard  their  Conduft,  in  the  feveral  Relations  and 
Capacities  of  Life  ?  Have  they  been,  in  any  Pro 
portion,  zealous  to  be  better  Husbands  and  f^ives9 
better  Mafters  and  Servants  ?  Have  they  been 
as  remarkably  forward'  to  fpeak  the  Truth  every 
Man  to  his  Neighbour,  to  do  Juftice,  and  love 
Mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  GOD  ?  Thefe 
are  Duties  to  be  attended,  as  well  as  religious 
Meetings:  But  han't  the  Zeal  of  People  to  attend 
the  latter,  been  fo  great,  as  to  leave  little  Room 
for  the  obfervable  Praftife  of  the  former  ?  This, 
I  believe,  few  will  venture  to  deny.  ,.  The  plain 
Truth  is,  People  have  generally  behaved,  in  thefe 
Times,  too  much  as  though  they  thought  Reli 
gion  confifted,  chiefly,  if  not  only,  in  an  Attend 
ance  on  Meetings  for  praying,  and  Preaching,  and 
exhorting,  and  fmging  and  the  like  ;  which  is 
certainly  a  Fault,  and  will  remain  fo,  notwith- 
flanding  all  that  can  be  faid  to  the  contrary. 

The  Way  in  which  Out-cries,  Paintings,  and 
other  bodily  Effecls,  have  been  fpoken  of  as  fure 
Arguments  of  a  divine  Influence  accompanying  the 
Word,  has  likewife  been  complained  of.  And 
what  is  the  Anfwer?  Why,*  "  that,  they  are  in 
deed  probable  Tokens  of  GOD's  Prefence  ;  and 
when  excited  by  preaching  the  important  Truths  of 
GOD's  Worcl^  urg'd  and  enforc'd  with  PROPER  IVIo- 


P.  172. 

W  *ives 


306  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

?: 

'• 

tives  and  Arguments,  or  are  confeqtienc  on  other 
Means  that  are  GOOD,  that  they  may  be  fpoken 
of,  and  rejoiced  in  as  fuch.     For  that  Cry  Ings  out,  I 
in  fuch  a  Manner,  and  with  fuch  Circumjtances,  is  * 
as  much  an  Evidence  of  their   general  Caufe   as 
Language.     The  Meaning  of  it  has  been  learn' d 
the  fame  Way  that  Perfons  learn  Language  ;  viz. 
by  Ufe  and  Experience"     But  what  is  all  this  to 
the  Purpofe  of  thofe  Out -cries,  and  Swoonings,  and 
bodily  Agitations,  that  are  not  effected  fo  much  by 
Truth  as  by  other  Things,  or  not  by  Truth  PROPER 
LY  urg'd  and  enforced,  nor  yet  by  any  other  Means 
that  are  GOOD  ?     And  have  there  been  no  fuch 
Out-cries  in  the  Land  ?     Yea  rather,   have  not 
the  Out-cries  too  generally  been  of  this  Kind  1  Han't 
they  been  prov'd  to  be  fo  in  thefe  Papers  t   And 
this,  I  know,  is  the  Tho't  of  a  very  great  Number 
of  as  wife,  and  pious,  and  judicious  Chriftians  a- 
bout  them,  as  any  we  have  in  the  Country  ;  and 
they  have  been  led  into  this  Sentiment,,  by  at-  jj 
tending  to  the  Means,  and  Manner^  and  Circumftan-  j 
ces  of  their  Excitement,  which  have  been  fuch  as 
to  leave  them  at  no  lofs  to  judge  of  the  Caufe,  any 
more  than  others  may  be  at  a  lofs  to   judge  of 
the  Meaning  of  Language.     And    what  is   the 
Way,  in  which  thefe  Out-cries  have  been  fpoken 
of  as  Tokens  of  an   extraordinary  divine  Prefence  ? 
Has  it  been  commonly  in  Words  expreifive  of  a 
Probability  only  1     Or,  have  they  been  delivered  ' 
with  an  Air  of  Modefty,  and  as  became  thofe  who  y- 
might  poffibly  be   miftaken  7    So  far  from  it, 
that  the  moil  pqfitive,  peremptory  Affirmations  have 
been  us'd  ;     and  thefe,  accompanied   with  bitter  , 
Language  againft  thofe  who  could  not  bring  them- 
felves  to  think,  and  fpeak  after  the  fame  Manner M 
with  them.     So  that  if  this  Complaint  likewife  bel 
confidered  as  it  relates  tpFaft.  there  is  jiift  Ground^ 

for 


Ifc. 

PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         30? 

for  it,  notwithftanding  all  that  has  been  offered  to 
make  it  appear  unjuft. 

I  might,  had  I  Room,  have  mentioned  many 
other  Inftances  ;  tho'  indeed  there  is  no 
real  Need  of  it,  for  'tis  only  doing  by  them 
as  I  have  done  by  thefe,  that  is,  reducing  them 
to  the  Truth  of  Faft,  and  they'll  appear  at  once 
not  to  have  been  vindicated  ;  nor  could  they 
have  been,  but  by  uncloathing  them  of  fuch  Clr- 
cumftances  as  are  unalterably  bad,  and  will  be 
judged  to  be  fo  as  long  as  there  are  any  remains 
of  true  Senfe  and  Reafon  in  the  World. 

But  befides  a  Vindication  of  fome  particular  Dif- 
crders,  the  whole  confidered  in  the  Lump  have 
been  excused  ;  but  with  fuch  Arguments,  as  I  can't 
fuppofe  will  be  thought  to  carry  in  them  much 
Weight.  To  illuftrate  this  alfo  iby  a  brief  Am> 
madverfion  on  fome  of  thefe  Excufes. 

It  has  been  fuggefted  concerning  the  bad  Things 
of  the  prefent  Day,  taken  colleftively,  that  they 
are  only  accidental  Effefts  of  a  good  Work  f.  But 
how  do  we  diftinguiih  between  accidental  Effefts, 
and  thofe  that  are  natural  ?  Is  it  not  by  the  Fre 
quency ,  and  Uniformity  of  their  Production  ?  If 
fuch  and  fuch  Effe6ls  are  found,  in  Experience,  to 
be  the  common  and  general  Attendants  of  fuch 
and  fuch  Caufes,  at  one  Time  and  another,  in  this 
Place  and  the  other,  don't  we  always  fpeak  of 
them  as  natural,  and  never  as  accidental  only  ? 
Yea,  is  not  the  Doftrlne  of  Caufes  and  Effects 

f  Vid.  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  Thoughts  on  the  late  Revi 
val  of  Religion  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  P.,  33. 

W  2  wholly 


3o8  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

wholly  founded  on  this  Kind  of  Objervation  and 
Experience  ?  And  if,  in  this  Way,  we  judge  of 
the  bad  Things  prevailing  in  thefe  Times,  can  it 
be  thought  they  are  nothing  more  than  accidental 
Effects  of  a  good  Caufe  ?  Will  any  pretend,  that 
they  are  rare  Produ6lions  ?  Or,  that  they  have 
been  peculiar  to  here  and  there  a  Per/on,  in  here  and 
there  a  particular  Place  ?  Is  it  not  a  known,  unde 
niable.  Faft,  that  they  have  appear'd  in  all  Pans 
of  the  Land  ;  yea,  in  every  Place  upon  the  whole 
Continent,  in  a  greater  or  lefs  Degree  ;  and  this,  a- 
ipiong  Perfons  of  all  Ranks,  Ages,  Sexes,  and  Condi 
tions,  who  have  been  wrought  upon  in  thefe  Days? 
And  have  not  thefe  Effects  been  moft  remarkably 
vifible  in  thofe,  who  have  been  fpoken  of  as  the 
moil:  remarkable  Subjects  of  the  prefer.t  Operation  ? 
Thefe  are  Truths  that  can't  be  difown'd.  They 
are  as  evident  as  the  Light  filming  at  Noon-day. 
And  is  it  poffible,  if  thefe  Effects  were  meerly  ac 
cidental,  that  they  ihould  be  thus  uniform,  and  al- 
mofl  univerfal?  We  mufl  give  up  out  Underftand- 
ings^  before  we  can  entertain  fuch  aTho't  of  them. 

It  has  been  faid,*  "  more  has  been  look'd  for 
"  from  Perfons  under  the  Operations  of  the  SPIRIT, 
<c  in  thefe  Days,  than  is  reafonable  ;  ,  that, 
"  when  any  profefs  to  have  received  Light,  and 
"Influence,  and  Comfort,  from  lieaven,  and  fo 
"  have  had  fenfible  Communion  with  GOD,  many 
"  are  ready  to  expect  that  now  they  appear  like 
ce  Angels,  and  not  like  poor,  feeble,  blind  and  fin- 
"  £ul  Worms  of  the  Duft."  For  my  felf,  I  know 
of  none  who  ever  had  fuch  Expeditions  ;  but 
if  any  were  fo  weak  and  ignorant,  they  have 
leen  that  which  is  Abundantly  fufficient  to  fhow 

"  *  P.  Ibid. 

them 


PART    L        find  dangerous  Tendency. 

them  their  Miftake.     'Tis  readily  own'd,  it  ought 
not  to  be  expe6led  of  Perfons  under  the  fcwing 
Operations  of  the  SPIRIT,,  that  they  fliould  appear 
like  Angels  ;     but  yet,  it  may,  with  all  Reafon, 
be  expedled,    they  ihould   appear   like  Men  who 
have  been  renewed  after  the  Image  of  GOD,  in  Know 
ledge,   and  Right eoufnefs,   and  true  Holinefs.     'Tis 
not  enough  that  they  have  Heat  in  their  dffefti- 
cns,  but   they  mufl  have  Light  in  their  Minds  ; 
'tis  not  enough  that  they  talk  fpecioufly,  and  frofefs 
highly,  but  they  mufl  be  really  poffeft  of  a  truly 
Chrijtian  Temper  :  And  this  they  mufl  difcover  by 
pitting  away  from  them  all  Bitternefs,  andWrath9and 
Anger,  and  Clamour,  and  evil-fpcaking,  with  all  Ma 
lice  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  by  living  in  the  habitual 
Practice  of  that  Piety  towards  GOD,  and  Right  eoufnpfs? 
and  Charity  towards  Men,  in  all  the  genuine  Expref- 
fions  of  them,  which  are  required  in  the  GofpeL 
'Tis  not  too  much  to  expe6l  this  of  thofe,  who 
have  been  changed,  by  the  Grace  of  GOD.,  into 
New-Creatures.     'Tis  true,,  they  are  far  from  be 
ing  perfe$ly  holy,    notwithftanding   this  Change  ; 
but  'tis  as  true,  becaufe  the  Bible  affirms  it,  that 
they  are  not  worthy  to  be  fpoken  of  as  thofe  who 
have  beeo  turn'd  from  the  Poiver  of  Sin  and'  -Satan 
to' GOD,  unlefs  they  are  fuch  Perfons  as  have  been 
defcrib'd.     And  has  this  generally  been  the  Cha- 
rafter  of  thofe,  who  have  been  highly  fpoken  of 
in  the  late  Times  ?  It  cannot  reafonably  be  fuppo£- 
ed,  while  fo  many,  and  fuch  grofs  Diforders  have 
been  prevalent  among  them. 

It  has  been  pleaded,  f  "  fo  careful  are  fome 
"  Perfons  left  this  Work  fhould  be  defended,  that 

t  P.  35- 

W  3  "  now 


310  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I 

"  now  they  will  hardly  allow,  that  the  Influences 
"  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  on  the  Heart,  can  fo 
*'  much  as  indirectly  and  accidentiy  be  the  Occi-Ji- 
"  on  of  the  Exercile  of  Corruption,  and  Commiffion 
"  of  Sins."  I  don't  believe,  among  the  whole 
Number  of  thofe  called  Oppofer'Sy  one  can  be  men 
tioned,  who  ever  made  the  leaft  Difficulty  of  al 
lowing  this  :  Though  they  have  always  enter 
tained  fo  high  an  Opinion  of  the  real  Influences  of 
the  Divine  SPIRIT,  that  they  can't  fuppofe,  theie 
fhould  GENERALLY  be  the  Occafion  of  the  Comiffi- 
on  of  Sin,  and  in  repeated,  bare.-fac'd  Acts,  a- 
mong  thofe  who  are  the  Subjects  of  thefe  Influen 
ces,  and  in  a  remarkable  Degree.  If  great  Num 
bers  of  Perfons,  of  all  Capacities,  Tempers,  and  JE- 
ducations,  and  in  moft  Places  throughout  a  Land, 
are  betray'd  into  fuch  a  Conduct  as  is  plainly  con 
trary  to  the  moft  exprefs,  and  peremptory  Com 
mands  of  the  G  off  el  of  CHRIST,  and  go  on  in  fuch 
a  Conduct  ;  and  this,  in  Contempt  of  Advice, 
and  all  Means  of  Conviction  :  I  fay,  when  this 
is  the  Cafe,  I  muft  think  better  of  the  Influences 
cf  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  ;  efpecially,  when  they 
are  powerful  and  extraordinary  beyond  what  they 
were  ever  known  to  be  before,  than  to  fuppofe 
they  fhould  be  the  Occafion  of  fuch  Breaches  of 
the  Chriftian  Law  :  Nor  do  1  efteem  it  an  In- 
ilance  of  that  Refpect,  which  is  clue  to  the  blejfed 
SPIRIT  of  Grace,  to  make  him  the  Caufe,  though 
it  be  only  in  the  Way  of  a  fine  qua  non,  of  thofe 
Effects,  which  are  vifibly  owing  to  the  Lnfls  of 
Men,  venting  themfelves  without  any  tolerable 
Reftraint,  either  from  Reafcn  or  Religion,  and  fo 
as  is  not  known  among  Multitude:,  even  of  thofe 
who  are  thought  to  deferve  no  better  a  Name, 
than  Children  of  the  Devil.  And  I  have  a  worfe 
Thought  of  this  Excufe  for  the  bad  Things  reign* 


ing 


I 


PART    I.         and  dangerou Tendency.          311 

ing  in  the  Lard,  asfo  many  Scripture  Examples  have 
been  mifapplied  in  their  Vindication. 

It  has  been  urg'd,*  "  It  is  a  Thing  not ;  to  be 
"  wondered  at,  that  at  a  Time  when  Multitudes, 
"  all  over  the  Land,  have  their  Affe&ions  greatly 
"  mov'd,  that  great  Numbers  fhould  run  into 
"  many  Errors  and  Miftakes  with  Refped  to  their 
"  Duty,  and  cohfequently  into  many  A6ls  and 
"  Praftices  that  are  imprudent  and  irregular."  I 
own  it  is  fo  far  from  being  Matter  of  Wonder, 
that  its  the  very  Thing  that  might  be  expe<5l- 
ed  ;  nor  could  it  have  been  otherwife.  When 
Men's  Paffions  are  in  great  Commotion,  and  they 
generally  acl  under  the  Guidance  of  them  in  this 
tumultuous  State,  'twould  be  miraculous,  if  they 
did  not  run  into  the  Wilds  of  Error  and  Ex 
travagance.  Its  the  very  Thing  that  has  often 
happened  in  the  World  in  former  Times  :  Nor 
may  it  be  thought  ilrange,  if  fo  it  has  hap 
pened  now,  or  fhould  fo  happen  yet  again  in  Time 
to  come.  But  then,  great  Care  mould  be  taken, 
not  to  afcribe  that  Confufion  in  Men's  PaJJions  to 
the  Divine  SPIRIT,  as  its  Author,  which  will 
make  it  even  a  Wonder,  if  it  does  not  run  them 
into  Errors  and  Miftakes  ;  and  this,  by  Multi 
tudes  :  Efpecially,  fhould  we  be  in  the  Exercife 
of  Caution,  when  the  Miftakes  are  fuch  palpable 
ones,  and  of  fuch  dangerous  Tendency,  as  many 
have  been  hurried  into,  at  this  Day. 

It  has  been  reprefented  f  "  as  no  infuperable 
et  Stumbling- Block,  that  Imprudencies  and  Irregti- 
"  larities  of  Conduct  fhould  abound,  when  fuch 
"  Multitudes  of  all  Kinds  of  Capacities,  natural 

~P.  38,    tP-39- 

W  4  "  Tempers 


Sis  Things  of  abzd  PART    I. 

"  Tempers,xEducations,  Cufloms  and  Manners  of 
"  Life,,  are  fo  generally  and  varioufly  affefted  ; 
<c  efpecially,  in  a  State  of  Things  fo  uncommon, 
*k  and  where  the  Degree,  Extent,  Swiftnefs  and 
"  Power  of  Operation  is  fo  very  extraordinary, 
fi  and  fo  new,  that  there  has  not  been  Time  and 
*'  Experience  enough  to  give  Birth  to  Rules  for 
*c  People's  Conduct,  and  fo  unufual  in  Times  pall, 
*'  that  the  Writings  of  Divines  don't  afford  us 
"  Rules  to  direcl:  us  in  fuch  a  State  of  Things." 
To  all  which  it  is  obvious  to  reply,  if  Multitudes 
of  all  Sorts  of  Perfons  were  affefted,  and  the 
Diforders  to  be  feen,  were  among  only  a  few  of 
them,  comparatively  fpeaking,  there  would  then 
be  no  jufl  Occaflon  of  Offence  :  But,  if  they 
prevail  among  Multitudes,  and  thefe  Multitudes  are 
of  all  K'mds  of  Capacities,  Tempers,  and  Conditions, 
how  does  the  Number  of  Perfons  affected,  or  the 
Variety  of  their  Charafters,  remove  away  the. 
Ground  of  Exception  ?  The  Difficulty,  in  this 
Cafe,  remains  juft  the  fame.— Nor  is  the  State  of 
Things  in  the  Land,  fo  new  and  unufual,  as  has 
been  faid,  'Tis  true,  there  never  was  fuch  a 
Scene  of  Things  before,  in  our  D.ay  ;  but  there 
has  feldom  an  Age  pafl,  flnce  the  Days  of  the  A- 
foflles,  but  this  has  been  the  State  of  Things  : 
And  the  Degree,  Extent,  Swiftnefs  and  Power  of 
the  Operation,  has  often  before  been  as  extraordi 
nary  ;  ^yea,  in  all  thefe  Refpefts,  it  has  been 
far  exceeded.  The  Operation,  its  granted,  vhas 
been  fivift  ;  but  not  fo  fwift,  but  Birth  has,  in 
Fa  ft)  been  given  to  many  excellent  Rules  of  Con- 
duft  ;  which,  if  they  had  been  received  in  the 
Spirit  of  Love  and  Meeknefs,  and  acled  upon  with 
the  Temper  of  Chriftians,  would  have  made  thefe 
Times  happy,  in  Compare  with  what  they  now 
are.  And  'tis  fo  far  from  being  a  juil  Remark, 

that 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         313 

that  the  Writings  of  Divines  don't  afford  Rules  to 
direft  in  this  State  of  Things,  that  they  are  full  of 
them.     There  are  no  Diforders  prevailing  in  the 
Land,  but  the  mod  pious,   and   orthodox,   and 
well- approved  Writers  have  (as  we  may  fee  in 
-thefe  Papers  )   exprefly   taken  Notice  of  them, 
and  laid  down  the  wifeft,  atnd  moil  effectual  Pre- 
fcriptions,  whether  for  the  Prevention,   or  Cure 
:  of  them.     The  fame  Imprudences,  Irregularities, 
Extravagancies,   or  whatever   other  Name   any 
may  chufe  to  call  them,  which  now  appear  among 
us,  were  common  in  ENGLAND,  no  longer  ago  than 
?•  the  laft  Century,  lower  down  than  the  Middle  of 
it  ,•     and  they  were  freely  wrote  againfl  by  fome 
-  of  the  beft  Men  that  were  then  upon  the  Stage, 
andfuch  Caution?,  Directions 9  Admonitions,  anti  Warn 
ings  given,  as  would  have  been  effectual,  if  duly 
regarded,  to  have  prevented   much  of  the  Maa- 
Inefe  of  the   prefent  Day  :     Nay,    fome   of  the 
,'worft  Things  that  have  been  complained  of,  were 
.general  even  in  this  Land  once  before  ;     and  the 
Rules  of  Conduct  then  given  by  our  Fathers,  are  as 
well  futed  to  the  prefent  State  of  Things,  as  any 
'could  now   adapt  them  had   they  ever  fo  much 
Time  to  do  it  in  ;     as  may.  be  feen  in  the  fore- 
.going  Pages.     It   could   not   therefore  be   from 
JiVant  of  good  Rules  of  Conduct,  already  prepared 
for  the   Ufe  of  People,  in  the  Writings  of  Di- 
l^ines,   that  they  have  been  thrown  into  Difor- 
Mer.     Only  thepra&ical  Works  of  that  Jingle  Man, 
^Mr.BAXT£Fv(which  I  heartily  wifh  were  in  every  Fa- 
Imily  throughout  the  Country  )  afford  every  Dr- 
Itreclion  needful  at  this  Day  ,•     and  are  the  more 
jp-prthy  cf  Notice,  becaufe  form'd  upon  long  Ob- 
ovation  and  Experience.— But  if  therd'were  no 
ties;  in  the  Writings  of  Divines,  futed  to  the  pre- 
int  Day,  why  need  JPeople  "  abound  in  Impru- 

tf  deuces 


Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

dences  and  Irregularities,"  for  Want  of  a  Rule 
of  Conduct,  when  they  are  favoured  with  the  writ 
ten  Revelation  of  GOD  ?  Is  not  the  .  Scripture^ 
which  was  given  by  Infpiration  of  GOZ),  profitable 
for  Doftrine,  for  Reproof,  for  Correction,  for  Injtrufti- 
cn  in  Right  e  ov fnefs,  that  the  Man  of  GOD  may  be 
perfect,  throughly  furniflfd  unto  all  good  Works  ? 
And  can  the  SPIRIT  be  fuppofed  to  be  poured  out, 
in  fuch  extraordinary  Influences  as<  to  render  the 
Bible  a  Rule  inefficient  for  the  Behaviour  of  thofe 
who  are  the  Subjects  of  them  ?  Does  this  re 
flect  due  Honour  upon  the  facred  Writings  ? 
Muft  they  not  be  conceived  of,  in  this  Light,  as 
very  defective,  and  imperfect  ? 

It  has  been  hinted, f  "  That  the  Weaknefs  of 
"  human  Nature  has  always  appeared  in  Times 
"  of  great  Revival  of  Religion,  by  a  Difpofition 
"  to  run  to  Extremes,  and  get  into  Confufion  ; 
<f  efpecially  in  three  Things,  Entbujiajm,  Super- 
"  ftit'wn  and  intemperate  Zeal  So  it  appear'd  in- 
"  the  Time  of  the  Reformation,  very  remarka- 
€£  bly  ;  and  alfo  in  the  Days  of  the  Apoftles." 
*Tis  very  true,  there  was  in  the  Time  of  the  Re 
formation,  the  Prevalence  of  Enthufiafnij  Superfti- 
tion,  and  intemperate  Zeal,  in  all  the  rPildnefs  and 
Extravagance,  that  can  be  conceived  of  :  But 
who  were  the  Perfons  among  whom  thefe 
Things  prevailed?  Were  they  generally  the  Chil 
dren  of  GOD  ?  Thofe  who  were  under  the  fpecial 
Guidance  of  the  HoLyGnosx?  'TisaDiflionour  to 
the  SPIRIT  of  Grace  to  fuppofe  fiich  a  Thing. 
They  were  rather  vain  Pretenders  to  the  SPIRIT  ;•' 
Men,  who  were  fpiritual  only  in  their  own  fonc 
Imaginations.  And  fo  far  were  they  from  bei 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        315 

Inftances  of  the  Work  of  Reformation,  that  they 
were  a  Scandal  to  it,  and  the  greateft  Obftacle  in 
the  Way  of  its  Progrefs.     And  the  fame  may  be 
faid  of  the  Times  of  the  Apoftles.    There  was  then 
among  thofe  called  Cbrtftians,  the  Appearance  of 
Pride,  Emulation,  Wrath,  Strife,  Sedition,  Schifm, 
.and  many  other  evil  Works.      But  among  whac 
Sort  of  Chrijlians  did  thefe  Things  appear  ?  Were 
they  thofe,,  upon  whom  the  HOL^  GHOST  had  been 
poured  ;out  in  his  faying  Graces  ¥  It  may,  perhaps, 
upon  Trial,   be  found   a   very  difficult  Task   to 
;prove  this.       There  were  many,  in  thofe  Days, 
who  could  claim  the  Chara6ier  of  Chriftians,  only 
in  Afpsarance  and  Profejfion  ;     yea,  among  thofe 
who  had  the  Spirit  fent  down  upon  them  in  an 
extraordinary  Manner,  i.  e.  in  miraculous  Powers, 
fo  as  that  they  could  fpeak  with  Tongues,  and 
fliew  Signs,   and  work  Wonders  :     I  fay,   even 
among  thefe,  there  were  many,  concerning  whom 
our  SAVIOUR  himfelf  has  laid,  that  they  fhall  be 
bid  to  depart  away  from  him,  at  the  lafl  Judg 
ment.     And  who  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  the 
Diforders  complained  of,  in  thefe  Days,  were  not 
prevalent,  chiefly,  among  this  Kind  of  Chriflians  ? 
There  was  a  Number,  in  this  and  the  other  Chri- 
ftian  Church,  no  Doubt,  who  were  truly  fpirituaf 
Men,  making  it  evident  that   they  were  fo,  by 
their  bringing  forth  the  Fruit  of  the  SPIRIT,  in  all 
Righteoufnefs,  and  Goodnefs,   and  Truth  :     But 
at  the  fame  Time,  there  was  a  Number,  and  per 
haps  a  greater  Number,  of  meer  nominal  Chrifti- 
;:'ans,  puffed  up  with  Pride,   and  in  a  Temper  to 
ijbe  led  afide  either  by  Satan,  or  their  own  Ltifts. 
•&nd  are  not  thefe  the  Perfons,  among  whom  it  is 
•noft  likely  Diforders  iliould  prevail  ?     Thofe  e- 
•peclally,  which  are  grofs,  and  feem  to  argue  a 
'^Spirit  unmodified  to  Sin  and  Luft. 

The 


3i<5  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

The  Language  in  which  the  infpir'd  PAUL  fpeaks 
of  the  falfe  Teachers  in  this  and  the  other 
Church,  and  thofe  who  were  led  afide  by  them,  if 
fairly  examin'd,  would,  I  am  apt  to  think,  import 
thus  much.  And  'tis  true,  in  Faft,  ( as  we  (hall 
fee  in  its  proper  Place)  of  many,  in  thefe  Times 
of  the  Apoftles,  that  they  fell  into  Errors  in  Prin 
ciple,  as  well  as  Practice,  inconfiftent  with  the 
Being  of  real  Chriftianity  ;  and  this,  notwith- 
flanding  they  had  "infallible  Apoftles  to  guide  and 
dire6l  them,  to  rectify  Diforders,  and  reclaim  them 
when  they  were  wandring." 

It  is  (till  pleaded,!  "  If  the  Affair  be  ferioufly 
f(  weighed  in  its  Circumftances,  it  will  be  no 
"  great  Difficulty  to  account  for  it,  fuppofing  the 
"  Work,  in  general,  to  be  from  a  great  Outpour- 
"  ing  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  that  many  have 
"  run  into  great  Errors,  and  juft  fuch  Errors  as 
<f  they  have."  And  in  order  to  account  for  it, 

It  is  faid,*  That  "  fome  who  have  been  im- 
"  prov'd  as  great  Inftruments  to  promote  this 
"  Work,  have  been  very  young  :  And  how  na- 
"  tural  is  it  for  fuch,  being  newly  brought  out  of 
"  a  State  of  Darknefs,  Infenfibility,  and  Death, 
cc  and  having  in  View  the  Reality,  the  Vaftnefs, 
u  and  infinite  Importance  and  Nearnefs  of  fpiri- 
"  tual  and  eternal  Things,  and  not  having  the 
"  Advantage  of  Age  and  Experience,  and  but  lit- 
(t  tie  Opportunity  to  ftudy  Divinity,  or  to  con- 
"  verfe  with  aged  experienced  Chriftians  and  Di- 
"  vines  ,*  how  natural  is  it  for  fuch  to  fall  into 
"  many  Errors." — The  Anfwer  to  all  which. is, 
ready  at  Hand  ;  viz,  That  if  fome  of  the  In-' 

f  P.  43- ~~*  P.  Ibid."" 

ftruments 


"PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         317 

ftruments  in  this  Work  were  very  young,  and  had 
but  little  Acquaintance  with  Divinity,  and  were 
'but  newly  brought  to  a  Senfe  of  the  Importance 
of  eternal  Things,  they  were,  for  thefe  Reafons, 
very  unfit  to  be  employed  as  Inftruments  ;     and 
it  may  be-  feared,  whether  great  Diihonour  han't 
been  done  to  the  Caufe  of  GOD,  and  Religion, 
by  not  checking   their  Forwardnefs  to  engage  in 
the  miniflerial  Work,  for  which  they  were  fo  evi 
dently   unqualified.     JTis  obfervable,  the  Apoftle 
PAUL,  in  his  Direftions  to  TIMOTHY  about  intro 
ducing  Men  into  the  Miniftry,  particularly  gives 
fuch  a  Caution  as  that,*  Not  a  NOVICE  left  being 
lifted  up  with  Pride,  be  fall  into  the  Condemnation  of 
the  Devil.     The  Original  Word,  anfwering  to  the 
KEngli/b  one,  NOVICE,  is  Neophuton ;  which  properly 
:flgnifies,  a  raw  young  Chriftian,  one  who  has  but 
*'"  newly  been  waked  out  of  Sleep,  and  had  open 
ed  to  his  View,  the  Reality  and  vaffc  Importance 
"of  fpiritual  Things :"     And  'tis  the  exprefs  Direc 
tion  of  an  infpir'd  Apoftle^  that  fuch  an  one  fhould 
not  be  employ 'd  in  the  Miniftry.     And  the  Rea* 
fon  he  fubjoins  is  very  folemn  and  weighty,  left 
being  puffed  up  with  Pride ,  he  fall  into  the  Condem 
nation  of  the  Devil  ;     obvioufly  implying  that  Per- 
-fons  newly  brought  over  to  Religion,  and  not  ful 
ly  inflrufted  in  it,  are  in  great  Danger,   if  em- 
*ployed  as  Minifters,  of  falling  into  'Pride,  the  De- 
\pil' s  S'm->  and  hereby  expoiing  themfelves  to.  Con- 
)Sdemnation9  the  Devil's  Punifhment.   'And  the  Apoftle 
certainly  judged  right  in  this  Matter.     For  none 
|are  more  apt  to  be  proud  and  vain-confident,  than 
•gthis  Kind  of  Perfons  ;     as  has  been  abundantly 
,  verified  in  Fa6l,  in  thefe  Times  :     And  the  Dan- 
is  greatly  increafed,  when,  together  with  the 


8i8  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

'Newnefs  of  their  Acquaintance  with  fpiritual 
Things,  they  are  young,  very  young  in  Years.  It's 
vaft  Odds,  whether  the  encouraging  fucb  Novices. 
to  a6l  as  Minifters,  won't  be  the  Means  of  their- 
falling  into  fuch  Miftakes,  both  in  Judgment  and 
Condutt,  as  may  be  deflruftive  to  themlelves,  and 
the  Intereft  of  CHRIST  too.  It's  natural  to  expect 
Confufion,  when  meer  Youths  in  Age,  as  well  as 
Chriftian  Knowledge  and  Experience,  are  invited 
into  the  Pulpit,  and  admir'd  for  their  bold  and  ig 
norant  fpeaking  of  Things  they  little  ti  n  e'er  flan  d. 
And  (hall  the  Want-of  Years,  and  Knowledge,  and 
Experience)  in  thefe  Perfons,  be  pleaded  in  Ex- 
cufe  for  the  wretched  Miftakes  and  Follies  they 
run  into  ?  It  ought  rather  to  be  urg'd  as  one  of 
the  ftrongeft  Reafons,  againft  their  "taking  upon 
them  the  Bufmefs  of  the  Mmiflry  ;  which  would, 
at  once,  prevent  all  this  Mifchief. 

The  Plea  goes  on,  and  in  Subftance  is  thus,* 
"  That  as  the  Influences  of  the  SPIRIT,  upon  thofe 
"  who  have  lately  had  Experience  of  them,  are 
"  what  they  were  unacquainted  with,  and  had 
"  never  felt  before,  its  no  Wonder  they  don't  fo 
"  well  know  how  to  diftinguifli  one  extraordinary 
"  new  ImpreflLon  from  another,  and  fo  (tothem- 
u  felves  infenfibly  )  run  into  Entbufiafm,  taking 
"  every  ftrong  Impulfe  to  be  divine.  As  Multi- 
"  tudes  of  illiterate  People  (  moft  of  whom  are  in 
"  their  Youth  )  are  brought  into  fuch  new,  and 
"  before  (to  them)  unheard  of  Circumftances,  its* 
<c  natural  to  fuppofe  they  fhould  pafs  wrong  and 
ic  ftrange  Judgments  both  of  Perfons,  and  Things, 
"  beholding  them  in  fuch  a  new  Light.  And 
"  as  they  fcarce  ever  heard  of  fuch  a  Thing  b 

*  P-  44>  45- 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         319 

'"  fore,  as  the  Outpouring  of  the  SPIRIT,  or  had 
,"  no  Notion  of  it,  its  nothing  ftrange  that  they 
"  don't  know  how  to  behave  themfelves  in  fuch 
"  a  new  and  flrange  State  of  Things  :  Nor  is 
(f  it  unaccountable,  that  they  (hould  be  ready  to 
€<  hearken  to  thofe,  who  have  been  the  Inftru- 
f*c  ments  of  this  Work,  in  them  and  others,  or 
"  that  they  fliould  receive  every  Thing  they  fay, 
"  and  drink  down  Error  as  well  as  Truth  from 
>*c  them."  To  which  I  would  return  Anfwer,  as 
follows.  The  Influences  of  the  SPIRIT  are  always 
new  and  unknown  to  Perfons,  in  Experience,  'till 
they  are  the  happy  Subjects  of  them  :  And  why 
'{hould  they,  at  this  Day,  be  more  apt  to  run  ge 
nerally  into  Miftakes  about  them,  than  at  other 
Times  :  The  Pretence,  that  they  are  now  more 
powerful  and  extraordinary,  won't  do  ;  for  the 
more  powerful  thefe  Influences  are,  when  real 
and  from  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  the  lefs  liable 
Perfons  are  to  Miftakes,  and  the  fewer  of  them, 
and  of  fmaller  Moment,  they  will  fall  into.  The 
true  Account  to  be  given  of  the  many  and  great 
Miftakes  of  the  prefentDay,  about  the  SPIRIT 's 
Influence,  is  not  the  Newnejs  of  the  Thing,  the 
not  having  felt  it  before  ;  but  a  notorious  Error 
generally  prevailing,  as  to  the  Way  and  Manner 
of  judging  in  this  Matter.  People,  in  order  to 
know,  whether  the  Influences  they  are  under,  are 
from  the  SPIRIT,  don't  carefully  examine  them 
by  the  Word  of  GOD,  and'  view  the  Change 
they  produce  in  the  moral  State  of  their  Minds, 
and  of  their  Lives,  but  haftily  conclude  fuch 
I  and  fuch  internal  Motions  to  be  divine  Imprejfi- 
rfc,  meerly  from  the  Perception  they  have 

§'  them.  They  are  ready,  at  once,  if  this  is 
wfual,  or  ftrong,  to  take  it  for  fome  Influence 
om  above,  to  fpeak  of  it  as  fuch,  and  to  act  s'c- 

cordinglr. 


320,  Things  of  a  bzA  PART    L 

cordingly.  This  is  the  Error  of  the  prefent  Day  ; 
and  'tis  indeed  the  proton  Pfeudos,  the  fiifl  and 
grand  Delufion  :  And  where  this  prevails,  we  1 
need  not  be  at  a  lofs  ta  know  die  true  Spring  of 
other  Errors.— As  to  the  Multitudes  V/ho  are  bro't 
into  fuch  new,  and  (co  them  )  unheard  of  Circum- 
fiances,  'tis  true,  they  are,  Illiterate,  and  young  Peo 
ple  ;  but  this  notwithstanding,  if  the  ftfewnefs 
of  their  Circumftances  is  fuch  as  is  proper  to  new 
Creatures,  they  will,  in  their  general  Behaviour,  difco- 
ver  the  true  Spirit  and  Genius  of  this  Sort  of  Per- 
fons.  'Tis  a  great  Miflake^to  think,  that  the  new 
Nature,  or  thofe  Influences  that  produce  it,  how 
ever  extraordinary,  are  apt  to  put  Men  upon 
making  wrong  and  ftrange  Judgments,  either  of 
Perfons  or  Things  :  They  have  a  contrary  Ten 
dency  :  and  'tis  a  Reproach  to  them  both,  to 
fuppofe  otherwifel  A  meer  paffionate  Religion,  'tis 
true,  has  always  led  to  this,  and  always  will  ; 
but  not  that,  which  enlightens  the  Underflanding, 
renews  the  Will,  and  makes  the  Heart  good  and 
honeft.-— How  far  'tis  a  Truth,  that  this  People 
have  fcarce  heard  of  fuch  a  Thing  as  the  Out- 
•pouring  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  or-  had  no  Notion 
of  it,  may  admit  of  Difpute  ;  but  that  the  Out 
pouring  of  the  SPIRIT  (hould  introduce  fuch  a  State 
of  Things,  as  that  thofe  upon.  <wbom  he  has  been 
foured  out,  {hould -not  know  how  to  behave,  will,  I, 
think,  admit  cf  no  good  Plea  in  its  Defence! 
'Tis  a  plain  Cafe,  one  of  the  main  Ends  of  the 
Out-pouring  of  the  <??I:UT,  is  to  difpofe  and  enable' 
People  to  behave  as  (  :r,  in  their  various 

Stations ,  Relations  and  %s  of  Life  ;     and  if 

inllcad  of  this,  they  are  thrown  into  fuch  zftrangA 
State,  as  that  they  can't  behave  as  they  ought  tql 
do,  not  in  here  and  there  a  perplext  Cafe,  but  ii| 
fome  of,  the  •moil  obvious  ahd  ejfintial  Points  on 

Pra&ices 


PART    L         and,  dangerous  Tendency.         321 

•Praftice  ;  let  who  will  call  this  an  Out-pouring 
Of  the  SFIRIT,  'tis  not  fuch  an  one  as  the  Bible 
I  knows  any  Thing  of.  And  'tis  nothing  iliort  of 
a  grofs  Refleftioh  on  the  bleffed  SPIRIT,  to  fpeak 
of  him  as  wonderfully  poured  out  upon  a  People^ 
land,  at  the  fame  Timej  to  fuppofe  fuch  a  State 
t)f  Things  ariflng  therefrom,  as  that  People  may 
run  into  very  ill  Conduft,  and  it  not  be  thought: 
Jlrange^  if  they  do  fo.— What  is  obferv'd  of  Peo* 
pie's  Readinefs  to  hearken  to  thofe,  who  have  been. 
thelnftruments  of  bringing  them  into  their  prefent 
Circumflancesj  I  own,  is  no  other  than  might  be 
expefted  :  Nor  have  I  any  Doubt,  upon  my 
Mind,  whether  the  Difofderf,  fo  general  in  this 
-Land,  had  their  Rife  from  thefe  Perfons.  But 
~n>  and  Confufion,  and  other  evil  Works,  won'c 
change  their  Nature,  be  their  Origin  in  Pvopfc 
themfelves,  or  their  Leaders, 

It  is  ffill  urged,*  "  That  when  Perfons  ate  'ex 
traordinarily  affefted  with  a  recent  Difcovery 

"  of  the  Greatnefs  and  Excellency  of  the  divine 
Being,  the  Certainty  and  infinite  Importance  of 

ff.-  eternal  Things,  the  Precioufnefs  of  Souls,  and 
the  dreadful  Danger  and  Madnefs  of  Manldndj 
together  with  a  great  Senfe  of  GOD's  diftin- 
guifhing  Kindnefs  and  Love  to  them  ;  no 
Wonder  that  now  they  think  they  muft  exert 
themfelves,  and  do  fomething  extraordinary,- 
for  the  Honour  of  God,  and  the  Good  of  SouJs, 
and  knoxv  not  how  to  forbear  fpeaking  and  ad- 
ing  with  uncommon  Earneftnefs  and  Vigour* 
And  in  thefe  Circiimflancesy  if  they  ben't  Per 
fons  of  uncommon  Steadiness  and  Difcretion,- 
or  han't  fome  Perfons  of  Wifdoin  to  direct 


p.  45. 

X  .  them, 


322  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I, 

"  them,  'tis  a  Wonder,  if  they  don't  proceed 
"  without  due  Caution,  and  do  Things  that  are 
ff  irregular,  and  will,  in  the  IfTue,  do  more  Hurt 
"  than  Good."  'Tis  readily  granted,  Perfons  un 
der  a  juft  and  ftrong  Senfe  of  divine  Things,  will 
exert  themfelves  with  an  awaken'd  A6livity  in 
the  Bufinefs  of  Religion.  'Twould  be  no  Won 
der,  if  thofe  who  had  extraordinary  Difcoveries  of 
GOD,  were,  to  an  extraordinary  Degree,  filled 
with  Lowlinefs  and  Humility,  and  fuch  an  Awe 
and  Reverence  of  the  divine  Majefty,  as  would 
make  them  eminently  circumfpeft  in  their  whole 
Deportment  towards  him  ;  if  from  the  uncommon 
View  they  had  of  his  Perfe£Hons,  they  were,  in 
an  uncommon  Manner,  transformed  into  his  Like- 
nefs,  appearing  in  the  World  lively  Images  of  that 
Goodnefs,  Righteoufnefs,  Faithfulnefs,  Kindnefs, 
Mercy,  Patience  and  Long-fuffering,  which  are 
the  moral  Glory  of  the  infinitely  perfect  Being. 
'Twould  be  no  Wonder,  if  thofe,  who  had  up-, 
on  their  Minds  an  extraordinary  Senfe  of  the  Pre- 
cioufnefs  of  Souls,  difcovered  extraordinary  Care 
and  Pains  in  working  out  the  Salvation  of  their 
cwn  Souls  ;  if  they  were  obfervably  diligent  in 
adding  to  their  Faith,  Venue  ;  to  Venue,  Know 
ledge  ;  to  Knowledge,  Temperance  ;  to  Temperance, 
Patience  ;  to  Patience,  Godlinefe  ;  to  Godlinefs, 
'Brotherly -Kindnefs  ;  .and  to  Brotherly -Kindnefs,  Cha 
rity  :  "For  they  that  lack  thefe  Things  are  blind  to 
the  Worth  of  their  own  Souls  ;  whereas,  they 
that  do  them  make  it  evident  that  they  regard  their 
Souls  :  For  fo  an  Entrance  /ball  he  minijlred  to  them 
abundantly,  into  the  everlafting  Kingdom  of  our  LORD 
and  SAVIOUR  JESUS  CHRIST.  .  In  like  Manner^ 
'twould  be  no  Wonder,  if  thofe  who  had  an 
tracrdinary  View  of  the  Danger  and  Madnefs 

thofe' 


PART    I.        ant  dangerous  Tendency.         323 

thofe  who  neglect  their  Souls,  were  froportionably 
aftive,  within  their  proper  Sphere,  in  Endeavours 
to  do  them  all  the  Service  they  could  ,•  if  they 
were  ready  with  their  Advice,  their  Counfel, 
their  Prayers,  their  Intreaties,  to  beget  in  them  a 
jufl  Concern  about  Salvation  :  Nor  would  they 
be  "  worthy  of  Indignation,  and  be  beyond  Com- 
-pajjion,"  if,  through  an  indifcreet  Zeal  they  mould, 
now  and  then,  be  betrayed  into  WeaknefTes  and 
ExcefTes.  Thefe  are  Things,  not  to  be  wonder 
ed  at  ;  they  are  no  other  then  might  reafonably 
be  expe6led.  But  the  Wonder  is,  how  an  extra 
ordinary  Difcovery  of  the  Greatnefs  and  Excellen 
cy  of  GOD,  the  Importance  of  eternal  Things, 
and  the  Precioufnefs  of  Souls,  and  the  Danger  of 
.their  perifhing,  fhould  make  Men  vain  and  con 
ceited,  full  of  themfelves,  and  apt  to  throw  Con 
tempt  on  others  ;  how  it  fliould  loofen  Men's 
Tongues  to  utter  fuch  Language  as  would  not  be 
feemly,  even  in  thofe  who  profefs  no  Senfe  of 
GOD,  or  divine  Things  ;  how  it  fhould  lead  them 
into  wrong  Sentiments  in  Religion,  blind  their 
Eyes  as  to  fome  of  the  moft  plain  Points  of  Doc 
trine  ,•  and  in  a  Word,  difpofe  them  to  fuch 
Things  as  are  called  in  Scripture,  the  Works  of  the 

'jtyjb. 

Thefe  don't  look  like  the  Fruit  of  extraordinary 
Difcoveries  of  GOD  ;  but  they  are  the  very 
Things  which  may  be  expedled,  where  Men's 
Pajjions  are  rais'd  to  an  extraordinary  Height, 
without  a  proportionable  Degree  of  Light  in  their 
Underftandings* 

Such  high  dffeftiom,  I  know,  are  freely  fpoken 

of  as  owing  to  the  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD; 

and  this,  when  there  is  not  given  "  Strength  of 

X  2  Under/landing 


324  Things  of  a  bad  PART    1,  I 

Under/landing  in  Proportion  ;     and  by  Means  here-  I 
of,  the  Subjects  of  thefe  Affections  may  be  driven,  I 
*'  through  Error,  into  an  irregular  and  finful  Con- \ 
ducLf"     But  it  may  juftly  be  queftion'd>  whether! 
extraordinary  Warmth  in  the  Paffions,  when  therefl 
is  not  anfwerabie  Light  in  the  Mind,   is  fo  much  I 
owing  to  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  as  fome  may  be>| 
ready  to  imagine.     For  is  it  reafonable  to  think,  I 
that  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  in  dealing  with  Men  in  I 
a  Way  of  Grace,  and  in  Order   to  make  them  I 
good  Chriftians,  would  give  their  Paffions  the  chief  I 
Sway  over  them  ?     Would  not  this  be  to  invert  I 
their  Frame  ?     To  place  the  Dominion  in  thofe  I 
Powers,  which  were  made  to  be  kept  in  Subjec-  I 
tion  ?     And   would  the  alwife   GOD  introduce 
fuch   a  State  of   Things  in  the   human  Mind   ?l 
Can  this  be  the  Effect  of  the  Out-pouring  of  his 
SPIRIT  ?     It  ought  not  to  be  fuppofed.     One  of  I 
the  moft  ejjential  Things  neceflary  in  the  new-form-M 
ing  Men,  is  the  Reduction  of  their  Paffions  to  a  I 
proper   Regimen,  i.  e.     The   Government  of  "a  I 
fanftified  Under/landing  :     And  'till  this  is  •  effect-1 
ed,  they  may  be  called  New- Creatures,  but  they 
are  far  from  deferving  this  Charafter.     Reafonable^ 
Beings  are  not  to  be  guided  by  Pajfien  or  Affefti-\ 
on,  though  the  Objecl  of  it  fliould  be  GOD,  and 
the  Things  of  another  World:     They  need,  even 
in  this  Cafe,  to  be  under  the  Government  of  a 
well  inftrucked  Judgment  :     Nay,  when  Men's  Paf- 
Jions  are  raifed  to  an  extraordinary  Height,  if  they 
have  not,  at  the  fame  Time,  a  due  Ballance  of 
Light  and  Knowledge  in  tjieir  Minds,  they  are  foil 
far  from  being  in  a  more  defirable  State  on  thi-s 
Account,  that  they  are  in  Circumflances  of  ex 
treme  Hazard.       There  is  no  Wildnefs,  but  theyj 

f'P.  48. 

are  ! 


'FART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.         325 

are  liable  to  be  hurried  into  it  ;  there  is  no 
Temptation,  bur  they  are  expos'd  to  be  drawn^a- 
fide  by  ic  :  Nor  has  the  Devil  ever  greater  Ad 
vantage  againfl  them,  to  make  a  Prey  of  them, 
and  lead  them  captive  at  his  Will.  And  this  has 
-often  been  verified  by  fad  Experience.  Who 
can  boaft  of  greater  Tranfports  of  Affe&ion,  than 
the  wildeil  Enthufiafls  ?  Who  have  had  their 
Paffions  excited  to  a  higher  Pitch,  than  thofe  of 
the  ROMISH  Communion  ?  Who  have  been  more 
artful  in  their  AddreiTes  to  the  Pafliom,  than  Po- 
Priefts  ?  %  And  who  more  fuccefsful,  by 

heating 


J  Obfervable  to  this  Purpofe  is  the  following  Story,  in 
the  Book  entitled,  The  Frauds  of  the  Romijh  Monks, 
and  Priefts^  fet  forth  in  eight  Letters.  The  Author 
fpeaking  of  a  particular  Sort  of  Romifh  MifTionaries 
moftly  Capuchins,  tells  us,  that  "  after  they  have 
<c  furnifhed  themfelves  with  a  good  Stock  of  Ser- 
C{  mons  upon  different  Subjects,  they  fend  to  ROME 
"  and  demand  aMiffion  from  thePopE;  that  is,  leave 
•c  to  go  and  preach  their  Sermons  in  certain  Towns 

<c  and  Provinces. The  firft,  faith  he,  that  ever  I 

te  faw  of  this  Sort,  was  at  MONTEFIASCON,  two 
tf  Days  Journey  and  an  half  from  ROME.  Thefe 
*c  were  Capuchin:^  who,  befides  their  Habit  which 
cc  was  very  odd  and  antick,  with  their  great  Beards, 
*c  had  on  their  Heads  great  red  Calots,  or  cloje 
8C  Caps  to  fignify  their  Z^/,  and  the  red  hot  Ardaur 

c  of  their  Charity  for  the  Converfton  of  Souls. 

<c  I  had  the  GUI  iofity  to  go  and  hear  them  preach, 
<e  I  entred  the  Church  where  I  faw  one  of  them  in 
-c-  the  Pulpit,  with  a  great  Rope  or  Cord  about  his 
*c  Neck,  and  a  Crucifix  in  his  Arms,  who 
c  did  his  utmoft  Endeavour,  to  excite  fenfi- 
€C  ble  Affeclions  in  the  Hearts  of  his  Auditors. 
<c  The  chief  Aim  of  tfrefe  Preachers  is  to  make  ths 


325  Things  of  a  b&d  PART    I. 

beating  the  Affeftions  of  People,  to  eftablifli  Error 
and  Delufion  ?  Nay,  what  Engine  has  the  Demi 
himfelf  ever  made  Ufe  of,  to  more  fatal  Purpofes, 
in  all  Ages,  than  the  PaJJlons  of  the  Vulgar  height 
ened  to  fuch  a  Degree,  as  to  put  them  upon  aft- 
ing  without  Thought  and  Underftanding  ?  The 

plain 


€C  People  weep  ;     if  they  can    once  effect   this  they 

cc  are   happy,    and   this     is  all    they  defire    ;     for 

*c  this  procures  them  the  Reputation  of  being  great 

<c  Miflionaries,  and  Men  of  a  truly  apqftolick  Spirit. 

<c  To  this  End  they    make  Ufe  of  the  moft  tender 

<c  melting  and  affectionate  Expreffions  they  can  think 

*c  of,  to  draw  Tears  from  their  Hearers. 

"  ThePreacher  I  heard  at  thisTime,was  paraphraf- 

<e  ing  the  Hiftory  of  the    Paflion  of  our  SAVIOUR, 

*•  and  after  he  had  employed   his  utmoft  Skill  in  fet-  I 

<c  ing  forth  our  SAVIOUR  as  the  moft  lovely,  beau-  1 

<c  tiful  of  Men   ;     he  on  the  other  Hand  reprefent-  I 

*e  ed  thofe  pitilefs  Tormentors,  who  with  great  Cords  I 

*6  tied  his  fair  Hands,  white  as  the  driven  Snow,  and  I 

**  beat  his  lovely  Countenance  where  the  Lilly  and  I 

<e  the  Rofe  did   urge  for  Mattery.     He  added   to  all  I 

**  thefe  Expreflions   a  moft  JamentabJe  and  affec-ling  I 

*€  Tone,  with  Geftures  very  proper,  and  according  | 

<s  to  the  Subjedl:.     I  perceived  that  this  Father  was  f 

*c  an  excellent  Declaimer,  when  on  a  fudden  fome  ii 

?c  good  Women  wholly  melted  into  Tendernefs  and  jj 

56  Companion  fas  were  thofe  Women  of  JERUSA-  Ii 

<6  LEM,  who  wept  feeing  JESUS  CHRIST    carrying  Jl 

^  his  Crofs  to  Mount  CALVARY,  and    whom  our  \ 

?e  SAVIOUR  bad  not  to  weep  for  him,  but  for  them-  • 

**  felvesj  caus'd  their  Sighs  to  be  heard  aloud   ;  and  • 

<?  a  few  Minutes  after,  all  that  Quarter   where  theJ 

*'  Women  fat,  being  all  in  Tears,  the  Emotion  foo^Q 

*'  caught  amongft  the  Men^alfo  5    fo  that  the  whole T 

**  Church  was  filled  wiih  Groans,  Sighs  and  Sobs. 

Whereupon  ; 


PART    I.        and  dangerous  Tendency.        327 

plain  Truth  is,  an  enlightened  Mind,  and  not  raff 
ed  Affeftwns,  ought  always  to  be  the  Guide  of 
thofe  who  call  themfelves  Men  ,•  and  this,  in  the 
Affairs  of  Religion,  as  well  as  other  Things;:  And 
it  will  be  fo,  where  GOD  really  works  on  their 
Hearts,  by  his  SPIRIT.  'Tis  true,  "  the  End  of 

the 


"  Whereupon,  the  Capuchin  refolved  to  profecute 
cc  his  Conqueft,  caft  himfelf  down  upon  his  Knees, 
*(  and  fixing  his  great  Crucifix  upon  the  Pulpit,  he 
**  lifted  up  both  his  Hands  to  Heaven  ;  and  with  a 
"  mournful  and  terrib]eVoice,twifting  theCord  about 
*c  hisNeck  as  if  he  had  a^Mind  to  ftrangle  himfe!f,he 
<c  cried  out,  Mercy ,  Mercy  ;  and  continued  in  the 
"  fame  Manner  to  repeat  the  fame  Word  about  40 
"  or  50  Times,  'till  he  had  made  all  his  Auditory 
*c  cry  fo  after  him.  Then  there  was  a  moft  dreadful 
<c  Noife  heard  in  the  Church,  which  continued  fora 
"  good  Quarter  of  an  Hour,  'till  their  Breaths  being 
*'  fpent,  the  Noife  began  to  lefTen  by  Degrees,  and 
"  at  laft  ended  in  Silence  ;  which  gave  Occafion 
<c  to  the  Father  to  refume  his  Difcourfe,  which  he 
*c  continued  with  the  fame  tender  Affeclions  to  the 
"  End."  Vid.  Vol.  i.  Page  261.  This  Author 
fays  of  himfelf,  "  That  he  was  once  a  fecular  Priejl 
"  in  the  Church  of  ROME."  Vid.  Pref.  5th  Edit, 
printed  1725. 

He  adds  to  what  is  before  faid,"I  don't  pretend  in 
<c  the  leaft  to  blame  here  the  Senfiblenefs  and  Ten- 
*'  dernefs  of  Men's  Hearts,  with  Refpedt  to  our 
46  SAVIOUR'S  Pajf/lon  ;  I  am  fo  far  from  that,  that 
*c  I  wifti  it  were  in  my  Power  to  make  a  moft  deep 
"  Impreflion  thereof  in  the  Hearts  of  all  Men  :  But 
"  withal,  this  fhall  never  hinder  me  from  owning, 
<c  that  thefe  Affections  do  ordinarily  pafs  away  like 
<c  Lightning  ;  and  that  good  folid  Motives  laid  down 
<£  in  a  Sermon,  to  engage  People  to  a  truly  Chrifti- 
"  an  Life,  make  a  longer  Stay  in  a  Man's  Mind, 

"  and 


28  Things  of  a  bad  PART    L 


the  Influence  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD  is  not  to  in- 
creafe  Men's  natural  Capacities  :"  But  'tis  to  fit 
their  Powers  for  religious  Exercife,  and  preferve 
them  fe  a  State  of  due  Subordination.  JTis  as 
much  intended  to  open  the  Undemanding,  as  to  warm 
the  Affections  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  to  keep  the 
Pafflons  within  their  proper  Bounds,  retraining 
them  from  ufurping  Dominion  over  the  reafonable 
Nature.  'Tis  true  like  wife,  "  GOD  has  not  o- 
blig'd  himfelf  immediately  to  increafe  civil  Pru 
dence,  in  Proportion  to  the  Degrees  of  fpiritual 
Light."  But  if  it  fhall  pleafe  GOD  to  viiit  Men 
with  the  Influences  of  his  SPIRIT,  it  may  juflly 
be  expe6led,  that  he  fhould  increafe  their  moral 

or 


<c  and  are  there  ready  upon  Occafion  to  move 
<c  the  Will  ;  and  this  is  what  theft  Miffionaries. 
<c  wholly  negleSi.  Accord! ngly  we  don't  find  that 
<e  the  Italians  (after  all  thefeMifiions)  are  yet  a  whit 
"  the  better  Men." 

I  have  the  rather  inferted  this  Account,becaufe  agree 
able  to  another  I  received,  fome  Time  ago,  from  a 
Gentleman  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  known  to  many 
among  us,  and  of  an  eftablifh'd  Reputation  ;  who 
teing  in  a  Romijh  Country,  went  from  the  high  Cha- 
ra&er  he  had  given  him  of  a  certain  -dignified  Clergy- 
Man  to  hear  him  preach.  He  obferv'd  there  was  a 
beautiful  Image  of  our  SAVIOUR  hanging  on  tbeCrcfs, 
near  the  Defk.  He  could  not  at  firft  tell  the  Ufe  of 
it  ;  but  prefently  faw  how  very  ferviceable  it  was  ; 
for  as  the  Gentleman  was  preaching,  though  what 
he  faid  was  in  Latin  (a  Language  unknown  to  moft 
of  the  Aflembly)  ;  yet  by  the  rapturous  Manner  in 
which  he  hug'd  and  kifs'd  the  Image,  the  Congrega 
tion  was  thrown  into  a  general  Scream  ;  and 
when  he  had  feveral  Times  produced  this  Effeft  by 
repealing  this  farce,  the  People  were  difmiftj  no 
doubt,  greatly  edified. 


PART    L         and  dangerous  Tendency.         329 

or  religious  Prudence  ;  that,  if  he  fliould  give 
them  fpiritual  Light,  it  fhould  be  for  their  Inftruc- 
tion  in  the  Knowledge  of  what  is  Sin,  and  what 
is  Duty  :  Nor  can  it  be  fuppofed,  that  thofe 
who  are  favoured  with  extraordinary  Meafures  of 
Light  from  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  fliould  be  in  grofs 
Darknefs  as  to  the  Knowledge  of  fome  of  the 
moil  important  Points  of  Chriftian  Practice :  Which 
yet,  may  be  truly  faid  of  many  in  thefe  Days  ; 
I  unlefs  they  are  allow'd  to  be  under  the  Govern 
ment  of  a  vitiated  Will,  which  is  much  worfe.^ 

But  befides  what  has  been  offered  in  Excufe  of 
the  Errors  of  the  prefent  Day,  from  Man  and  his 
Infirmity,  it  is  further  obferv'd,  that  if  we  confl- 
der  them  *  "  in  Refpect  of  GOD,  and  his  righ 
teous  Permiffion,  they  are  not  fbange,  fuppofing 
the  Work,  as  to  the  Subftance  of  it,  to  be  his." 
To  which,  nothing  more  need  be  faid  than  only 
this,  that  thefe  Errors  are  ,as  eafily  to  be  account 
ed  for,  in  Refpect  of  the  Wefled  GOD,  fuppofing 
they  are  as  many,  and  as  great ;  as  any  have  repre- 
fented  them  to  be.  The  holy  GOD  may  have  wife 
Ends  in  fuffering  fuch  a  Scene  of  Diforder  to  take 
Place  in  die  Land. 

If  he  intended  it  as  a  Punifhment,  'tis  no  more 
than  we  juflly  defer ve  :  Nor  is  it  a  Punifhment 

;  different  in  Kind,  from  what  other  profeffing,  fin- 
ful  People  have,  often  before,  been  vifited  with. 
Falfe  Pretenfions  to  extraordinary  'Communications 
from  the  SPIRIT  ;  over- heated  Imaginations  ; 
vain  Boaflings  of  high  Degrees  of  Sanctity  be 
yond  other  'Men  ;'  Contempt  of  the  flan  ding 

i   Miniftry  ;    Animofities,  Contentions,  Schifms  and 

"  *  P.  49.  'A 

Separations, 


330  Things  of  a  bad  PART    I. 

Separations,  have  often  been  the  Scourges  of 
GOD  upon  fmful  Churches.  No  new,  nor  ftrange 
Thing  has  happened  to  us  :  — -  It  has  been  a 
frequent  Difpenfation,  in  GOD's  righteous  Govern 
ment  of  the  World. 

And  the  Difpenfation  is  fuch,  as  is  capable,  in 
the  Wifdom  of  GOD,  of  being  over-rul'd  to  great 
fpiritual  Advantage.  Hereby  Occafion  has  been 
given  for  great  Talk  about  Religion  ;  and  many, 
by  this  Means,  may  have  been  brought  into  an 
Acquaintance  with  it,,  who  might  otherwife  never 
have  made  any  Enquiries  about  it.— Hereby  Oc 
cafion  has  been  given  for  the  fetting  forth  fome 
of  the  great  Truths  of  the  Gofpel,  in  a  clearer 
and  ftronger  Light,  than  might  have  been  ex 
pected,  if  it  had  not  been  for  fuch  Errors.—  Hereby 
Occafion  has  been  given  for  many  to  look  more 
critically  into  the  Ground  of  their  Hope,  than 
they  might  have  done,  if  it  had  not  been  for  that 
Spirit  of  rafh  ^fudging,  which  has  been  fo  generally 
prevalent.— Hereby  Occafion  has  been  given  for 
an  eminent  Difplay  of  many  Chriftian  Graces,  in 
thofe  who  have  been  reviled,  and  had  all  Manner 
of  Evil  falfly  fpoken  againfl  them,  for  Righte- 
oufnefs  Sake  ;  and  by  the  frequent  Opportuni 
ties  they  have  had  for  the  Exercife  of  thefe  Gra 
ces,  they  may  have  been  more  firmly  rooted  and 
fixed  in  them.  In  a  Word,  hereby  Occafion  has 
been  given  for  a  more  particular  and  faithful  Ap 
plication  to  Multitudes  of  Perfons,  by  the  Mini- 
Hers  of  CHRIST,  both  in  public  and  private,  than 
otherwife  there  might  have  been  Opportunity 
for  ;  which  may,  in  Time,  appear  in  the  Fruits 
of  Righteoufn.efs.-~ - 

But 


PART    I.         and  dangerous  Tendency.        331 

But  whatever  the  Aim  of  GOD  might  be,  in 
the  Permijfion  of  thefe  evil  Things ;  or,  whatever 
Good  they  may  be  capable  of  being  over-rul'd  to ; 
there  is  no  Unrighteoufnefs  with. him.  Clouds 
and  Darknefs  may  be  about  him,  but  Righteouf- 
nefs  and  Judgment  are  the  Habitation  of  his 
Throne.  His  Mercy  is  in  the  Heavens,  and  his 
Faithfulnefs  reacheth  to  the  Clouds.  His  Righte- 
oufnefs  is  like  the  great  Mountains,  and  his  Judg 
ments  are  a  great  Deep. 

In  fine,  'tis  remark'd,  in  Excufe  for  thefe  Dif- 
orders,*  ff  That  we  have  no  Caufe  to  wonder 
"  at  them,  if  we  confider  them,  with  Regard  to 
"  the  Hand  of  Satan  ;  who,  becaufe  the  Out- 
cc  pouring  of  the  SPIRIT  is  greater,  than  has  ever 
•c  been  in  NEW-ENGLAND,  is  now  alarm'd  and  en- 
"  raged,  and  exerts  himfelf  more  powerfully  to 
<c  tempt  and  miflead  thofe,  who  are  the  Subjects 
"  it,  or  it's  Promoters"  Whatever  may  be  the 
Reafon,  'tis  generally  believed,  Satan  has  been 
very  bufy  in  thefe  Times.  He  has,  no  Doubt, 
had  a  great  Hand  in  fomenting  the  Divifions,  and 
promoting  the  Extravagancies,  which  have,  of  late, 
been  fo  detrimental  to  the  Intereft  of  Religion  : 
And  if,  inflead  of  contriving  Excufes  for  thefe 
Things,  we  had  been  more  vigilant,  becaufe  our 
Adversary  the  Devil,  as  a  roaring  Lion,  ivalketh  a- 
bout,  feeking  'whom  he  may  devour  ;  and  had  rcjifl- 
cd  him  more  couragioufly,  as  thofe  who  are  fled- 
faft  in  the  Faith,  it  might  have  been  as  much  for 
the  Honour  of  CHRIST,  and  the  Service  of  his 
Caufe  and  Kingdom.  —If  'tis  no  Wonder  the  De 
vil  is  now  a6live  and  bufy,  and  has  had  an  Influ 
ence  in  the  Production  of  the  bad  Things  among 


us, 


332  Things  of  a  bad,  &c.      PART    L 

us,  it  ought  not  to  be  wondered  at,  when  thefe 
are  fo  many,  and  of  fuch  dangerous  Tendency  (as 
has  been  largely  reprefented),  if  there  are  thofe 
who  think  they  ftiall  ferve  CHRIST,  while  they  0j7- 
fofe  the  Devil,  in  doing  what  they  can  to  give 
Check  to  fuch  Diforders,  and  in  opening  the  O- 
Wigations  all  are  under  to  do  fo  ;  which  is  the  next 
Part  of  the  Work  T  have  undertaken.* 


'•  I  have  purpofely  omitted  taking  Notice  of  the  large 
Defcription,which  has  been  given  of  tbeWork  of  GOD 
(aid  to  be  going  on  in  the  Land  ;  partly,  becaufe  the 
whole  of  what  has  been  hitherto  offer'd,may  belook'd 
upon  as  a  juft  Correction  of  the  Exceffes  of  it  ;  but 
principally^  becaufe 'tis  little  elfe  ( excepting  the  16 
Pages  which  are  taken  up  with  the  Character  of  a 
ftngle  Perfon,  who  yet  was  not  anlnftance  ofConvtr- 
Jion  in  thefe  Times)  but  a  Repetition  of  the  Account 
before  publifh'd  to  theWorld,  which  has  lately  receiv 
ed  an  Anfwer^  and  particularly  upon  this  Head.  Vid. 
jinfwer  to  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  diftmguilhing 


PART 


PART    II.         Tbt  Obligations,  &c. 


335 


PART     II. 

Reprefenting  the  Obligations 
which  lie  upon  the  Paftors  of 
thefe  Churches  in  particular , 
and  upon  all rin  general,  to  ufe 
their  Endeavours  to  fupprefi 
ihzDiforders  prevailing  in  the 
Land  ^  with  the  great  Dan 
ger  of  their  Negle£t  in  fo  im 
portant  a  Matter. 


RE  the  lad  Things ',  accompanying  the 
prefent  religious  Commotion,  no  other  than 
a  few  accidental  Imprudences,  it  would  not 
"worth  while  to  expend  much  Pains  to  guard 
People  againffc  them  :  Neither  would  it  look  like 
Friendlhip  to  the  Caufe  of  CHRIST,  if  any  were 
abundant  in  infifting  on,  and  fetting  forth  fuch 
Blemiflies  ;"  efpecially,  if  it  were  fo  done  as  to 
r>f  manifeft  that  they  chofe  rather,  and  were  more 
forward,  to  take  Notice  of  what  is  amift,  than 
is  good  and  glorious/'  But  the  Cafe  is 

widely 


334  Th*  Obligations  to          PART    II, 

widely  different,  when  the  Diforders,  which  may 
juflly  be  complained  of,  are  generally  prevalent,  and 
fuch  as  tend  to  the  Definition  of  Peace,  with 
Truth  and  Holinefs*  And  as  this  is  the  real  State 
of  Things  in  the  Land,  at  this  Day,  (if  any  Cre 
dit  is  due  to  the  foregoing  Pages)  'cis  certainly 
Time,  high  Time,  to  appear  openly  and  boldly 
for  GOD,  and  lay  ourfelves  out  to  the  utmoft,  in 
all  proper  Ways,  to  give  Check,  if  poffible,  to 
the  Irregularities,  which  have  fo  mingled  them- 
felves  with  Religion,  as  to  "  eclipfe  the  Glory  of 
ic,  and  beget  Jealoufies  and  ill  Thoughts  in  the 
Minds  of  many,  about  the  whole  of  it." 

The  Obligations  to  this  are  folemn  and  weigh 
ty  :  And  they  are  binding  upon  the  Pajlors  of 
tbefe  Churches  in  particular ,  and  upon  all  in  general. 

We,    who  have  been   made    Overfeers  of  the 

Fkcks  in  this  Land,  are  peculiarly  obiig'd  to  ufe 

our  Endeavours,  in  all  futahle  Ways,  within  our 
proper  Sphere,  to  fupprefs  tbefe  Dif orders. 

Faithfulnefs  to  CHRIST  requires  this  of  us.  We 
are  his  Servants  by  Office  :  And  our  Bufinefs, 
as  fuch,  properly  lies,  in  doing  all  we  can  to  pro 
mote  the  Intereil  of  his  Kingdom.  This  is  what 
we  have  been  called  to,  and  let  apart  for  :  And 
the  Vows  of  GOD  are  upon  us  ;  and  wo  be 
unto  us,  if  we  are  unfaithful  /  And  is  this  a 
Charge  we  (hall  be  able  wholly  to  efcape  the 
Guilt  of,  if  we  can  behold  the  Rife  of  Error.,  in 
Oppofmon  to  the  Truth  as  it  in  JESUS  ;'  and 
the  general  Spread  of  Diforders,  in  various  Kinds, 
in  Contradiction  to  the  plain  Precepts  of  the 
Gofpel  ;  and  yet  fit  flill,  and  hold  our  Peace  ? 
Who  will  ftand  up  for  CHRIST,  if  we  don't  ?  Who 

are 


PART    II.       dif countenance  Irregularities.      335 

are  called  hereto,  if  not  his  authorifed  Officers  ? 
This  Matter  belongeth  to  us.  'Tis  the  proper  Bufi- 
nefs  of  our  Station  ,•  and  we  {hall  negleft  our 
Duty,  and  be  faithlefs  to  the  Charge  committed 
to  us,  if  we  are  meer  Lookers  on,  and  infert  not 
ourfelves  in  the  Caufe  of  Truth  and  Virtue,  which 
is  the  Caufe  of  CHRIST. 

'Tis  true,  we  (hall  do  well  to  ceafe  from  Strife 
about  Words  to  no  Profit  :  And  as  for  foolifh  and 
unlearned  Quejlions,  they  ought  to  be  avoided,  left 
they  increafe  to  more  Ungodlinefs.  But  when  the 
Order  of  the  Gofpel  is  openly  broke  in  upon  ;  the 
Faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints  grofly  mifinter- 
preted,  to  the  fubverting  of  Souls  ;  and  many  evil 
Pra6tices,  in  Confequence  hereof,  are  generally 
gone  into  :  I  fay,  when  this  is  the  Cafe,  where 
is  our  Fidelity  to  our  MASTER  and  LORD,  if  we 
fland  by  unconcerned  ?  Or,  what  is  as  bad,  if 
we  fold  our  Hands  together,  and  do  nothing  ? 
Are  we  not  fet  for  the  Defence  of  the  Gofpel  ?  And 
though  as  Servants  of  the  Lord,  we  muft  not  ftrive, 
but  be  gentle  to  all  Men  ;  yet,  ought  we  not  in 
Meeknefs  to  inftruft  thofe  that  oppofe  themfelves,  if 
-per adventure  GOD  mil  give  them  Repentance,  to  the 
acknowledging  of  the  Truth  ?  And  is  not  this  the 
injlituted  Way  of  recovering  fuch  out  of  the  Snare 
of  the  Devil,  <$ho  have  been  taken  captive  at  his 
Will  ?  Has  not  the  Bible  made  it  an  ejjential  In 
gredient  in  the  Chara6ler  of  Gofpel  Minifters,* 
that  they  be  able  by  found  Doctrine,  both  to  exhort 
and  convince  Gain-fayers  ?  And  what  will  fignify 
fuch  an  Ability,  i£  when  there  are  many  unruly 
and  vain  Talkers,  and  Deceivers,  who  fubvert  whole 
Hoafes,  teaching  Things  which  they  ought  not,  we 

*  Tit.  i.  9. 

make 


3 s 6  The  Obligations  to  PART    II 

make  lio  Ufe  of  it  to  flop  their  Mouths  ?  Is  ie 
not  the  Command  of  GOD,t  that  they  be  rebuked, 
fharply,  that  they  may  be  found  in  the  Faith  ;  not 
giving  Heed  to  the  Commandments  of  Men,  that  turn 
from  the  Truth  ?  And  can  we  fatisfy  our  Confci- 
ences,  while  we  live  in  the  Negle6l  of  fo  plain  a 
Duty  ?  Ant  we  very  Cowards  in  the  Caufe  of 
CHRIST  ?  Don't  we  difcover  a  Want  of  Faith- 
fulnefs  towards  him,  who  has  put  us  into  the 
Miniftry  ? 

We  may  preach  often,  and  profefs  a  great  Af* 
feftion  for  the  Work  of  GOD,  and  have  it  perpe^ 
tually  in  our  Mouths  ;  but  if,  at  fuch  a  Day  as 
this,  when  Error  in  Doftrine,  and  Prattice,  covers 
the  Face  of  the  Land,  we  are  illent  about  the 
Matter,  or  mention  it  only  after  fuch  a  Manner* 
as  to  make  it  evident  we  are  not  in  earneft  in 
what  we  fay,  how  can  we  be  any  other  than  cul 
pably  defective  in  our  Duty  to  CHRIST  ?  'Tis 
for  the  Honour  of  his  Name,  and  the  Intereil  of 
his  Kingdom,  that  we  cry  aloud  and  fpare  not. 
The  Errors  of  the  Times  are  not  fpeculative  Nice 
ties,  nor  Matters  of  doubtful  Difputation,  but  evi 
dent  Breaches  upon  the  Law  of  Faith,  or  the  Rule 
of  Duty,  and  in  Inftances  of  high  Importance* 
The  Gofpel  feverely  teftifies  againil  them,  and 
Faithfulnefs  to  the  REDEEMER  faould  put  his  Mini* 
fters  upon  doing  fo  likewife/ 

But  Faithfulnefs  to  our  People  as  well  as  CHRIST 
obliges  to  this.  The  Overfight  of  them  has  been  ' 
committed  to   our    Charge  ;     and  we  have  fo- 
lemnly  engag'd  before  GOD,  and  the  LORD  JESUS 
CHRIST,  who  {ball  judge  the  quick,  and  the  Dead,  at 

t  V.  13,  14. 

MS 


> 


ART    !!.       dif countenance  Irregularities.       Q  Q  7 


his  Appearing,  and  his  Kingdom,  not  only  to  preach 
the  Word  to  them,  being  inflant  'in  Seafon,  and  out 
if  Seafon  ;  but  to  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all 
Lpng-Juffering  and  Ddftrine*  And  how  lhall  we  be 
able  to  fulfill  this  Engagement,  if,  when  the  Tims 
is  come  that  they  will  not  endure  found  Doftrine,  but 
after  their  own  Lufts  heap  to  themfehes  Teachers, 
having  itching  Ears,  and  turn  away  their  Ears  from 
'  the  Truth,  and  are  turned  unto  Fables  :  I  fay,  how 
fiiall  we  approve  ourfelves  faithful,  if  we  are  now 
wanting  in  our  Care  to  warn  them  of  their  Dan 
ger,  and  put  them  under  the  Guard  of  heedful 
Caution  ?  When  can  we  more  feafonably,  or 
pertinently  4  apply  to  our  People  for  their  Directi 
on,  Admonition  and  Rebuke,  than  at  a  Time  when 
they  are  either  led  into  Error  and  Delufion,  or  are 
in  Hazard  of  being  fo?  We  are  fet  as  I-Patchmen 
to  our  Churches  ;  and  whofe  Bufinefs  is  it  to 
efpy  Danger,  and  give  Warning,  if  not  our's  ? 
Or,  if,  when  we  fee  Danger,  wcT  negleft  to  give 
Warning,  where  is  our  Faithfulnefs  ?  We  are 
called  Shepherds  ;  and  {hall  we  behave  as>%  ilich, 
if,  when  the  Wolf  comes  to  devour  the  Flock, 
we  don't  watch  in  all  Things  that  we  may  be  then- 
Defence  ?  Or,  if  they  mould  wander  out  of  the 
Path  of  Truth  and  Holinefs,  we  don't  ufe  our 
Endeavours  to  reduce  and  bring  them  back  ? 

'Tis  one  fpecial  Part  of  the  Duty  which  we,  - 
who  are  Minifters,  owe  our  People,  to  guard  them, 
as  much  as  may  be,  againil  the  bad  Influence  of 
all  Error,  whether  in  Principle  or  Prance.  And 
if  Error  fhould  prevail,  and  begin  generally  to  ap 
pear  in  its9 bad  Effects^  we  fhould  now  be  upon 
the  Watch  more  than  ever.  Now  is  the  Time, 
when  we  are  particularly  called  to  (land  up  for  the 
good  old  Way >  and  bear  faithful  Teftiinony  againft 
Y  every 


338  The  Obligations  to  PART    It 

every  Thing,  that  may  tend  to  caft  a  Blemifh 
on  true  primitive  Chriftianity.  'Tis  the  proper 
Work  of  the  Day  :  And  if  we  are  filent,  I  fee 
not  but  we  are  finfully  fo.  Says  the  excellent 
CALVIN,  f  whofe  Words  are  as  well  worthy  of 
Regard  in  this,  as  in  other  Articles,  "  When  any 
"  pernicious  Seel:  begins  to  arife,  but  chiefly 
ff  when  it  grows,  'tis  the  Duty  of  thofe  whom 
"  GOD  hath  appointed  to  build  up  his  Church, 
*"'  to  oppofe  it  ftrongly,  and  appear  againft  it, 
"  before  it  gets  Strength  to  corrupt  and  deflroy 
"  all.  And  certainly,  when  there  are  Paflors  of 
u  the  Churches,  they  ought  not  only  to  difpenfe 
4t  choice  good  Food  to  the  Flock  of  CHRIST,  but 
cc  they  muft  alfo  watch  againfl  Wolves  and 
"  Thieves,  that  if  they  will  come  in  to  the  Flock, 
<c  they  may  fet  them  far  away  by  their  loud  Out- 
"  cries  and  Vociferations."  And  LUTHER  fpeaks 
much  in  the  fame  Strain,  *  "  Miniflers  ought  not 
"  only  to  build  up,  but  to  defend.  In  a  Time  of 
"  Peace,  their  Duty  is  to  teach  ;  in  a  Time  of 
"  War,  to  fight  with  and  refift  Satan,  and  errone- 
"  ous  Men."  And  'tis,  as  he  elfewhere  exprefTes 
it,  "  A  mrnanijb  Thing  to  fit  in  a  Corner,  and 
"  lie  hid  in  fome  Hole  ;  but  worthy  a  Man  to 
"  plead  the  Caufe  of  GOD  and  Truth."  And  fo 
bad  a  Thought  had  he  of  mmlfterial  Silence  in 
the  Caufe  of  CHRIST,  that,  in  a  Letter  to  STAUPI- 
TIUS,  he  exprefles  himfeif  in  thofe  very  ftrong 
Words,  "  Let  me  be  found  any  Thing,  a  proud 
"  Man,  and  guilty  of  all  Wickednefs,  fo  I  be 
"not  convicted  of  wicked  Silence,  whilil  the  LORD 
"  fufiers." 


f  Prof  at.  adverf.  fanaticam  Sift  am  Libert. 
*  Epift.  ad  SPAIAT. 

We 


PART    II.      dif  countenance  Irregularities.       339 

We  may  think  it  enough,  if  we  preach  good 
Doftrine,  and  are  laborious  therein  ;     "  but,  at 
"  fuch  a  Day  as  this,  if  we  don't  {hew  to  our 
*'  People  a  hearty  Difaffeftion   to  the  abounding 
*(  Diforders  in  the  Land,  but  feem  rather  doubt- 
cc  fui  and   fufpicious  of  their  evil  Tendency,    we 
"  {hall  probably  be  the  Occafion  of  Hurt  inftead 
"  of  Good."     People  will  take    Advantage  from 
what  they  obferve  in  us,  and  be  likely  to  make 
an  ill  Ufe  of  it  :   Nor  would  it  be  any  Wonder, 
if,  through  the  Subtilty  of  Satan,  they  Ihould  be 
led  into  Error.     "  We,  who  are  in  the  f acred  Of- 
"  fice,  had  Need  to  take  Heed  what  we  do,  and 
<"  how  we  behave  at  this  Time.     A  lefs  Thing 
"  in  a  Minifter  will  encourage  Diforders  than  in 
"  other  Men.     If  we  are  filent,  or  fay  but  little, 
*f  in  our  publick   Prayers  and  Preachings,  about 
"  the  bad  Spirit  appearing  in  fo  many  evil  Effefts^ 
tf  or  feem  carefully  to  avoid  fpeaking  of  it   in 
"  Converfation,  it  will,  and  juftly  may,  be  inter- 
"  preted  by  our  People,  that  we,  who  are  their 
"  Guides,  and  to  whom  they  are  to  have  their 
*'  Eye  for  fpiritual  Instruction,  have  no  ill  Opini- 
*'  on  of  it  ;    and  this  will  tend  to  produce  the 
"  fame  Sentiments  in  them,  and  what  may  be  ex- 
€e  pefted,  as  the  Confequence,  but  the  Increafe 
"  of  Confufion  ?"  And  may  it  not  be  feared,  that 
the  Extravagancies,  which  are  now  fo  general,  are 
very  much  owing  to  the  want  of  minijlerial  Faith- 
fulnefs  in  teftifying  againft  them,  in  Time  ?     Are 
there  none  of  the  Paftors  of  thefe  Churches,  who, 
inftead  of  condemning  the  Things  that  were  evi 
dently  hurtful  to  the  Caufe  of  CHRIST,  have  plead 
ed  on  their   Behalf  ?     Or,  at  left,  palliated  and 
excufed  them  ?     Nay,  have  none  daubed   and 
flattered,  beyond  all  Meafure,  the  known  Promot 
ers  of  the  worft  Things  prevailing  in  the  Land  ? 
Y  2  And 


340  The  Obligations  to  PART    If. 

And  is  it  any  other  than  might  be  expefted,  when 
this  has  been  their  Conduct,  that  the  People 
fliould  be  thrown  into  fuclra  State  of  Diforder  ? 
Had  we,  who  are  intruded  with  the  Care  of  Souls, 
been  generally  careful,  in  the  Beginning  of  thefe 
Times,  to  point  out  the  Things  that  were  amifs  ; 
and  had  we,  upon  their  firft  Appearance,  ufed  our 
faithful  Endeavours  to  difcourage  their  Growth, 
we  fliould  have  feen,  I  doubt  not,  a  quite  differ 
ent  Face  of  Things :  And  if  we  would  now  give 
Check  to  the  Evils,  which  have  gain'd  Strength 
by  being  let  too  much  alone,  it  muft  be  by  com 
ing  out  boldly,  and  fpeaking  plainly.  And  is  it| 
not  Tim .2  to  do  fo  ?  There  are  few  of  ourj 
Churches,  but  Dif orders  are  to  be  feen  in  them  : 
And  as  to  feme  of  them,  are  they  not  broke  to 
Pieces  with  Strife  and  Schifm?  Were  ever  poor 
Churches  in  a  State, of  more  doleful-  Confufion  ? 
And  (hall  we  ftill  remain  filent  ?  Falthfulnefs  to  I 
our  Peofk  calls  upon  us  to  ftir  .up  our  felves,  no] 
longer  {landing  by  as  Idle  Spectators,  nor  yet  balt'\ 
ing  betwixt  two. 

And  this  is  what  we  are  further  obliged  to,  froj 
the  Example  of  thole  holy  Men  of  "COD,  wh< 
have  gone  before  us  in  a  bold  and  open  Tefli- 
mony  againft  the  like  evil  Things  in  their  Day5 
which  appear  in  cur's.  Soon  after  the  Setdemei 
of  this  (Country,  there  was  (as  we  have  alread1 
iecn)  ihe  Rile  cf  :i  Spirit  very  like  to  that  whicl 
now  prevails  :  And  it  occasioned  like  Difturi 
ance  fo  the  Churches.  And  what  was  the  Me 
tliod,  our  lathers,  in  the  XSniJi.ry,  took  for  tl 
Prdl-rvarion  of  Religion,  in  a  Time  of  fuch  Dii 
orders  ?  Were  they  afraid  to  fpeak  freely 
c^un'l;  them  ?  Were  they  dlfpos'd  to  make 
nothing  of  them  '?  Did  they  flrengthcn  tl 

Han/ 


PART     IL       difcQunttnance  Irregularities.       341 

Hands  of  thofe  who  fomented  them,  by  facrifi- 
cing  undue  Honour  to  them  ?  So  far  from  it, 
that  they  did,  in  all  the  Ways  they  could  devife, 
lay  themfelves  out  to  put  a  "Stop  to  the  Growth 
of  them.  They  pray 'd  and  preach'd  againft  the 
Errors  of  their  Day  ;  they  privately  convers'd 
with  the  Opinionifts,  ufing  their  bcft  Endeavours  to 
enlighten  "and  convince  them  ;  they  confulted 
with  one  another,  and  with  their  Churches  ;  and 
at  length,  there  was  a  general  Ajfembly  of  all  the 
Churches  in  the  Province,  by  their  Elders  and  Dele 
gates,  who  not  only  declared  to  the  World  their 
Dif approbation  of  thefe  Errors,  but  laboured  to  iliow 
the  People  that  they  were  Errors,  by  the  Light 
'of  Holy  Scripture. 

• 

And  when  the  fame  Spirit,  which  now  troubles 
us,  appear'd  in  ENGLAND  the  la  ft  Century,  what 
was  the  Behaviour  of  thofe  who  were  adeemed 
the  mo  ft  pious,  and  eminently  faithful  Minifters 
of  CHRIST  ?  Why,  they  lifted  up  their  Voice 
like  a  Trumpet,  teftifying  againft  the  Entlrt/nfm 
which  was  crumbling  the  Church  into  numbcrlefs 
Sects,  and  threatning  to  over-run  the  Nation. 
Many  now  approved  themfelves  Champions  for  the 
Church,  and  Caiife  of  GOD  ;  and  their  Name?, 
on  this  Account,  have  been  handed  clown  to  Pof- 
terity  with  Honour.  There  has  not  appeir'd 
among  us  any  Error  in  Principle,  any  Wildne'fs 
in  Imagination,  .  any  Indecency  in  Language, 
any  Irregularity  in  Pra6tice,  but  we  might  have 
learn'd  how  to  teftify  againft  it,  from  what  they, 
in  Faithfulnefs  to  CHRIST,  and  the  Souls  of  "Pev,- 
ple,  have  left  in  their  Writings/' 

And  the  fame  Method  was  taken  by  the  firft 

Reformers,  when  Entbufiafw  and  Error  began  to 

Y  3  life 


The  Obligations  to  PART    II* 

lift  up  their  Heads  in  GERMANY,  and  threaten  to 
carry  all  before  them.  They  did  not  confult  how 
they  might  pleafe  Men,  but  appeared  openly  for 
GOD,  and  were  refolv'd,  at  all  Hazards,  to  plead 
for  his  Caufe  againft  the  Diftraftion  of  the  Times, 
LUTHER  had  no  lefs,  than  fix  public  Difputations, 
at  WiTTiNGBURG,t  againft  the  Antinomians.  I  fup- 
pofe  the  Perfons  he  difputed  with  were  STORK  and 
MUNCER,  and  thofe  other  pretended  Prophets,  who 
boafted  of  angelic  Revelations,  and  immediate  Con" 
verfe  with  GOD  ;  for  thefe*  were  the  Men,  who 
fcattered  the  Seeds  of  falfe  Do&rine  in  WIT- 
TINGBURG,  and  were  hearkened  unto  by  Reafon 
of  their  great  fpiritual  Pretences.§§ 

And  he  wrote  an  excellent  Treatife,  upon  this 
fame  Subject,  in  a  Letter  to  his  good  Friend  Mr.. 
GASPER  GUTTIL  ;  admirably  futed  to  thefe  Times.§ 
He  wrote  likewife  an  Epiftle  to  the  People  of  ANT 
WERP,  when  in  Danger  of  being  feduced  by  thefe 
EntkiifiaftS)  tending  to  guard  them  againft  the  Infec 
tion  of  fuch  erroneous  Spirit  s.$  And  fo  far  was  he 
from  giving  out,  in  the  Caufe  he  was  engaged, 
that,  in  one  of  his  Epiftles,  he  exprefles  himfelf 
In  the  following  noble  Chriftian  Style,*  "  I  have 
determined  with  myfelf,  to  fear  nothing  in  this 
Caufe,  but  to  contemn  all  Things  ;  yea,  the 
higher  the  Errors  rife,  and  the  more  mighty 
they  grow,  the  more  to  rife  up  againft  their*" 


" 


•f  RUTHERFURD'S  fpiritual  Antlcbrifi,  Page  86. 

§§  Vita  LUTHERI,  a  MELCH.  ADAM.  Page  124. 

§  It  may  be  fcen  in  Eagli/h,  translated  out  of  the 
high  Dutch  Original,  in  RUTHERTURD'S  Survey  of 
fpiritual  Antichrift,  Page  69,  and  onwards. 

J  Vita.  LUTHERI,  Page    131. 

*  Epiflol.  ad  SPAJ.ATINUM, 

CALVIN; 


PART    II.      dif countenance  Irregularities      343 

CALVIN  alfo,  that  great  Reformer,  boldly  fet 
his  Face  againft  that  very  FFildnefs  in  Opinion  and 
Behaviour,  which  is  revived,  in  the  Beginnings  of 
it,  at  this  Day.  The  Book  he  publilh'd  againft 
the  GERMAN  Enthufiafts  and  Libertines  *  is  an  il- 
luftrious  Inflance  of  this  ;  In  which  he  has  thefe 
obfervable  Words,  f  "  I  am  not  ignorant,  it  will 
"  not  be  well  taken  by  all,  that  I  name  thefe 
cc  Men  :  But  what  fhould  I  do,  when  I  fee  three 
*€  or  four  Seducers  who  lead  to  Deflru6tion  many 
€€  Thoufands  of  Souls  ;  making  it  their  daily 
"  Work  to  overthrow  the  Truth  of  GOD,  to 
"  fcatter  the  poor  Church,  to  fpread  abominable 
ic  Blafphemies,  and  to  difturb  the  World  with 
"  Confuflon  ?  Ought  I  to  be  fllent,  or  diflem- 
ff  ble  ?  O  how  cruel  ihould  I  be,  for  the  fparing 
cc  or  pleafing  of  fome,  to  fufFer  all  Things  to  be 
*'  deftroyed  and  wafted,  and  not  to  warn  Men 
"  to  take  Heed  !" 

But  befides  thefe,  many  other  of  the  frft  Re 
formers  boldly  declared  againft  the  Errors  of  the 
Times  ;  among  whom  I  (hall  further  mention 
only  the  famous  ZUINGLIUS,  who,  inftead  of  en 
couraging  the  Extraordinaries  many  pretended  to, 


*A  very  greatChara&er  is  given  of  thisBook^by 

of  CALVIN'S  Life,  in  thefe  Words,  "  Eodem  Anno 
(1544)  CALVINUS,  turn  Anabaptiftas,  turn  Liberti- 
jios,  (in  quibus  vetcres  omnes,  quamtumvis  portento- 
fae,  renovatae  funt  Hserefesj  duobus  libellis  ira  refuta- 
vit  ;  ut  nemineni  iis  attente  Ie6lis  arbitremur  exti- 
tifle,  qui  vel  ab  iftis,  nifi  Sciens  et  prudens,  decipj 
potuerit,  vel  fi  antea  deceptus  erat,  non  ultro  in  rec- 
tam  viam  redieret.  Vit.  CALVINJ  a  MELCH.  A- 
DAM.  P.  96.  97. 
\  Injlruftiv  adverfus  Libcrtin.  P.  603.  &c. 

publickly 


344  7hs  Obligations  to  PAPvT    II, 

publickly  difputed,  *  and  wrote  againft  them.  Li 
his  Book  upon  this  Subject,  he  has  thefe  Words 
in  his  own  Excufe,  capable  of  a  good  Ufe  at  this 
Day.f  "  Good  Reader,  thefe  Things  which  I 
*'  propound  to  thee  may,  perhaps,  be  fomewhat 
"  againft  thy  Stomach,  but  be  allured  no  Vio- 
<ii  lence,  or  Rage  of  Mind  hath  drawn  me  to  it, 
"  but  my  faithful  Care,  and  Sollicitude  for 
<;  the  Churches,  For  there  are  many  of  the 
<c  Brethren,  who,  when  they  did  not  know  what 
c;  Kind  of  Men  thefe  were,  thought  whatever  was  faid 
«  againft  them,  was  too  harfli  and  bitter  :  But 
"  now,  when  their  Flocks  begun  to  be  dejlroyed  by 
*'  them,,  they  then,  by  Letters  and  Cries,  have 
"  called  upon  us,  conceding  thofe  Things  to  be 
*'  more  than  true,  which  before  they  had  heard," 

I  am  fenfible,  thefe  were  but  frail  fallible  Men, 
even  the  beft  of  them,  and  not  worthy,  on  that 
Account,  to  be  fet  up  as  perfect  Patterns  :  Nor 
^re  we  obliged,  by  an  implicit  Faith,  to  do  as 
they  did,  I  therefore  go  on  to  obferve, 

That  this  Conduct  of  theirs,  was  the  very  fame, 
the  wfpird./lpoJUes  went  into,  upon  the  Appear* 
?ince  of  Irregularities  in  their  Day.  This  is  par 
ticularly  evident,  in  what  we  find  recorded  of  the 
fratlice  of  the  great  St.  PAUL.  There  never  was 
a  more  bold  and  faithful  Servant  of  JESUS  CHRIST, 
He  readily  ventured  his  Name,  his  Intered,  his 
Life,  in  bearing  Teflimony  againft  every  Thing 
that  reflected  Difgrace  on  the  Gofpel,  and  tended 


*  Vita  ZUINGLII,  a  MELCH.  ADAM.  P.  30. 

|  Kenclms  ZUINGLII   contra  Cat  abaft  ifias.     Page 


PART     II.       difeffuntendnce  Irregularities. 

to  introduce   Diforder  and  Confufion   into   the 
Church. 

When  the  Chriftians  at  CORINTH,  had  got  into 
Parties,  fome  crying  up  one  Miniiler  ;  others, 
another,,  to  theDifturbance  of  the  common  Peace  ; 
what  is  the  Behaviour  of  the  Apoftle  ?  Does  he 
fay  a  Word  that  might  give  Encouragement  to 
this  Party  Spirit  ?  Does  he  ftand  by  as  a  filent 
Speftator  of  the  Envying,  and  Strife,  and  Divijir 
fins,  that  were  among  them  ?  So  far  from  it, 
that  he  feverely  chaftifes  their  Ignorance  ;  faith 
fully  points  their  View  to  the  true  Source  of  thefe 
Diforders,  the  undue  Prevalence  of  carnal  Affetti- 
ons  :  and  folemnly  gives  it  in  Charge  to  them,  Not 
to -glory  in  Men.] 

When  they  grew  conceited  of  their  extraordina 
ry  miraculous  Gifts,  and  exercifed  them  after  ftich 
a  dJforderly  Manner,  as  that,  if  an  Unbeliever  had 
come  into  their  Place  of  Worfhip,  he  would  have 
been  apt  to  fay,  they  were  mad  #  how  -does  he 
fet  himfelf  to  rectify  fo  grofs  an  Irregularity,  not 
only  by  calling  them  to  Decency  and  Order,  but 
by  "giving  them  an  Idea  of  the  blelled  GOD,  as 
the  Author,  not  of  Confufion  but  of  Peace,  as  in  all 
the  Churches  .of  the  Saints  ?* 

When  there  appear  *d  among  them  a  Difpofhi- 
on  to  aft  out  of  Character,  to  turn  every  one  Ex- 
horter  or  Preacher,  leaving  their,  own  Bufinefs  to 
do  the  Work  which  was  proper  to  Minifters  ; 
does  he  efcecm  this  a  Matter  of  flight  Coniidera- 


f  i  Cor.  3.  Chapt.     £  I  Cor.  14.  23.     *  Ibid. 
Vcrfe  33.  40. 

tion  * 


$4<5  The  Obligations  to  PART    II, 

tion  ?  Does  he  let  them  alone  to  go  on  in  this 
Diforder  ?  Inftead  of  this,  he  faithfully  warns 
every  Man  to  abide  in  the  fame  Calling,  wherein  he 
was  called  ;*  and  repeats  the  Exhortation,!  Let 
every  Man  wherein  he  is  called,  therein  abide  with 
GOD  :  Nay,  as  tho'  he  could  not  too  ftrongly 
teftify  againft  this  Humour  of  every  one's  fetting 
himfelf  up  for  a  Teacher,  he  fpends  a  whole  Chap 
ter  $  in  fhowing,  that  it  evidently  oppos'd  the 
fFiJdom  of  GOD  in  the  Diftribittion  of  his  Gififc, 
as  well  as  his  Appointment  of  fome,  in  Diflin&ion 
from  others,  to  be  Prophets  and  Teachers. 

In  a  Word,  when  a  Spirit  of  ram,  cenforious 
Judging  difcovered  it  felf,  in  their  Treatment  of 
one  another,  and  arofe  to  fuch  a  Height  as  even 
to  reproach  and  condemn  him,  though  an  Apoftk 
of  CHRIST  ;  what  is  his  Conduct  ?  Does  he  go 
about  to  excufe  the  Matter  ?  Does  he  lead  them 
into  a  Confideration  of  fuch  Inftances  of  rafh 
Judging  as  might  be  met  with  in  Scripture,  to 
reconcile  this  Practice  of  their's  with  the  Truth 
of  a  Work  of  GOD  in  their  Hearts  ?  Nothing 
more  diflant  from  his  Thoughts !-— -He  turns  the'.r 
View  to  the  Judgment-Seat  of  CHRIST,  and  per 
emptorily  charges  them  §  to  judge  nothing  before 
the  Time,  until  the  LORD  come,  who  will  both  bring 
to  Light  the  hidden  Things  of  Darknefs^and  will  make 
manifefl  the  Counfels  of  the  Hearts  :  And  as  tho* 
he  had  not  faid  enough  upon  a  Matter  of  fuch 
high  Importance,  he  largely  defcribes  to  them  the 
Nature  of  Chrijlian  Charity,  and  gives  them  plain 
ly  to  underftand,  that  if  they  were  not  pofleft  of 


*  i  Cor.  7.  20.      f  Ver.  24,      |  i  Cor.  12. 
§  i  Cor.  4.  j. 


PART    II    .  difcountenance  Irregularities.      347 

it,  they  were  nothing  in  Point  of  real  Christianity, 
though  they  fhould  be  able  to  fpeak  like  Angels, 
and  had  Faith  fo  that  they  could  remove  Mountains.* 

And  this  fame  Apoflle  was  alike  faithful,  when 
he  beheld  any  Thing  amifs  in  other  Churches,  to 
apply  to  them  for  their  Correction,  and  Inftruftion 
in  Right  eoufnefs,  as  the  Cafe  required.  Some  fig- 
nal  Proofs  of  this,  we  have  in  his  Epiflles  to  the 
Churches  at  ROME,  and  GALATIA  ;  especially,  the 
latter,  who  had  been  perverted  from  the  Truth, 
of  the  Gofpel,  by  the  coming  in  of  falfe  Teachers 
among  them.  The  whole  Drift  of  his  Letter  to 
them  fhows,  that  he  fought  not  to  pleafe  Men,  for 
that  he  fhould  not  then  be  the  Servant  of  CHRIST. 
He  feverely  reprimands  them  for  giving  Heed  to 
fuch  as  would  pervert  the  Gofpel  of  CHRIST  ;  and 
folemnly  declares  to  them,  as  he  had  done  before, 
That  if  any  Man  fhould  preach  to  them  any  other 
Gofpel  than  that  they  had  received,  he  ought  to  be 
efteem'd  accurfed.  f 

And  is  there  no  Regard  to  be  paid  to  thefe  no 
ble  Examples  of  Courage  and  Faithfulnefe  in  the 
Caufe  of  CHRIST  ?  May  we  not  learn  our  Duty, 
«  when  we  have  the  Conduct  of  infpird  Apoftles  for 
our  Direction  ?  Can  it  be  thought,  we  are  OP- 
TOSERS  of  the  Work  of  GOD,  while  we  tread  in 
their  Steps,  and  conform  our  Practice  to  their's  ? 
Are  not  Diforders,  in  the  Church,  as  dangerous  to 
Religion  now,  as  in  the  Apoflle 's  Days  ?  Is  it 
not  as  fit  they  fhould  be  couragioufly  teftified 
againil  now  as  then  ?  And  are  not  the  Mlnljters 


i  Cor.  13.  Chapter. 

Gal  i.  Chap.&  thro'  the  whole  of  the  Efiftk. 

of 


348  The  Obligations  to  PART    IT< 

of  CHRIST  under  Obligations  to  exercife  this  Faith* 
fulnefs,  as  they  are  compared  about  with  fo  great  a 
Cloud  of  Witneffcs,  among  whom  they  may  behold 
even  the  dpoftles  and  frft  Founders  of  the  Religion 
of  JESUS  ? 

Bat  we,  who  are  CHRIST'S  Minifters,  are  ftili 
further  obliged  to  difcourage  the  Rife  and  Growth 
of  Diforders  in  the  Church,  from  the  great  Dan 
ger  of  a  Neg!e£l  in  fo  important  a  Matter. 

There  will  be  Danger  in  Refpeft  of  ourfekes. 
For  we  have  the  Charge  of  Souh  ;  and  very 
•awful  is  the  Charge.  [Tis  not  altogether  unlike 
that,  *  Keep  this  Man  :  Jf  by  any  Means  he  be 
miffing,  then  flail  thy  Life  be  for  Ins  Life.  Not 
that  the  Blood  of  any  will'  be  required  at  our 
Hands,  if  we  have  been  faithful  to  warn  them  of 
the  Error  of  the  Wicked,  that  they  may  turn  from 
it  :  In  this  Cafe,  if  they  turn  not  from  their  Way, 
but  die  in  their  Iniquity,  we  have  delivered  our  Souls. 
But  if  through  Cowardice,  or  a  Man-pleafmg  Dif- 
pofition,  they  are  Jet  alone  to  be  drawn  into  Er 
ror  and  Delujion,  how  can  we  anfwer  for  our  Con- 
duel:  ?  Shall  we  behave  like  faithful  Miniflers 
of  JESUS  CHRIST,  if,  at  a  Time  when  Diforders 
are  become  general,  we  take  little  or  no  Notice 
of  them  ?  Is  there  no  Danger  in  fuch  a  Neg 
lect  ?  .Should  thofe  of  our  Charge,  by  Means 
of  our  Silence,  entertain  a  favourable  Opinion  of 
very  ill  Things ,  and  go  into  the  Practice  of  them, 
fliould  not  we,  in  a  Senfe,  be  chargeable  with 
their  Sin  ?  'Tis  true,  if,  from  an  upright  Heart 
we  have  endeavoured  to  do  our  Duty,  according 
to  our  befl  Light,  we  may  hope  for  the  Mercy 

*  j  Kings  2 p.  3p. 

of 


PART    If.      difewrilentntt  Irreguiaritiet.      34$* 

of  our  Judge,  though  we  fhould  have  fallen  into 
Miftakes.  But  we  had  Need  take.  Heed  to  our* 
felves  that  we  be 'found  faithful. 

To  be  ftire,  thofe  ought  to  do  fo,  in  a  particu 
lar  Manner,  who,  inflead  of  guarding  People  a- 
gainft  Error  and  evil  Practice,  have  unhappily  been 
the  Injlruments  of.  leading  them  into  it.  It  may 
be  worthy  the  fpecial  Notice  of  fuch,  that  thofe 
are  rank'd  among  falfe  Prophets,  and  threatned 
with  awful  Judgments,  in  the  Prophecies  of  Scrip 
ture,  of  whom  the  blefled  GOD  may  fay,  /  have 
not  fent  thefe  Prophets,  yet  they  ran  ;  /  have  not 
fpoken  to  them,  yet  they  prophejied. —  They  fpeak  a 
njion  of  their  own  Heart,  and  not  out  of  the  Mouth 
cf  the  LORD. —  They  prophefy  Lies  in  my  Name  ; 
yea,  they  are  Prophets  of  the  Deceit  of  their  own 
Hearts*  'Tis  againft  this  Kind  of  Minifters,  or 
Shepherds,  that  Jer.  23.  is  particularly  written. 
And  they  are  again  mentioned,  in  the  14  Chapt. 
14  Verfe,  In  the  29  Chape.  Ver.  8,  9.  And 
in  many  Places,  in  other  Prophecies.  I  don't 
determine  who  the  Perfons  are,  to  whom  thefe 
Texts  are  applicable  ;  but,  in  general,  'tis  too 
evident  to  be  denied,  that  fome  in  thefe  Days, 
have  run,  when  they  were  not  fent  :  And  they 
have  alfo  delivered  the  Suggejlions  of  their  own 
'  ever-heated  Imaginations,  in  the,  Name  of  the  LORD, 
and  for  his  Truths  ;  hereby  deluding  many  poor 
Souls.  And  however  high  an  Opinion  fuch  may 
entertain  of  themfelves,  or  however  well  they 
may  be  thought  of  by  their  Admirers,  they  may 
be  in  as  great  Danger  of  the  Guilt  cf  the  Blood  of 
Souls 'as  others,  they  are  fo  free  in  fattening  this 
Guilt  upon.  They  have  Reafon  to  look  to  them- 

*  Jer.  23.  i<5,  21,  25,  2<5. 

felves  : 


350  The  Obligations  ta .         PART    IT; 

felves  :  Nor  would  it  be  amifs,  if  they  would 
.fuppofe  themfelves  capable  of  being  miftaken.-— 
Their  Danger  is  greater  than  they  may  be  aware  of. 

But  befides  the  Danger  in  Refpeft  of  ourfelves, 
great  will  be  the  Danger  of  our  Churches,  if  we* 
don't  faithfully  warn  them.  There  is  no  Reafon 
to  expeft  that  Diforders,  when  they  have  arifen, 
will  die  of  themfelves  ;  they  will  rather  increafe, 
and  to  what  a  Height  they  will  grow,  without 
Difcotiragement,  none  can  tell.  The  fatal  Pro- 
grefs  of  Error  at  other  Times,  and  in  this  as  well 
as  other  Countries,  may  well  fill  us  with  Concern. 

The  Churches  in  this   Land,  upwards  of  an 
Hundred  Years  ago,  were  almoft  ruined  with  their 
religious  Difturbances.  The  Spirit  which  then  ope 
rated  was,  fuprifingly  fimilar  to  the  Spirit  of  thefe 
Times  (as  we  have  had  an  Account  in  the  Pre 
face*)  ;     and  it  jwiftly  fpread   through   the  Pro 
vince  9   foon  appearing  in    above  eighty  Errors  ; 
fome  of  which  were  deftrudtive  in  their  Tenden 
cy,   and  muft,    in  the  End,   root  out   Religion, 
wherever  they  take  Place.     I  know  it  was  plead 
ed  then,  as  it  is   now,   "  That  as  to,  fome  of 
thefe    Errors,    they    were   not  held  by    any.  " 
This  was  given,    to   the   Synod  convened   upon 
thefe  Affairs,  as  a  Reafon  why  they  fliould  not  en 
ter  upon  the  Confideration  of  them :  To  which  the 
Reply  was  in  thefe  Words,  "  That  they  were  in 
deed  maintained  in  the  Country,  by  forre  or  o- 
ther,  either  by  their  Speech,  or  elfe   by  Writing 
under  their  own  Hands,  as  the  Elders  were  able 
to  prove  by  two  or  three  or  four  Witnefles,  and 
that  in  every  Particular."! 

»— '  •       '     4 

f  This  is  a  Tranfcript  from  a  Manufiript  Copy  1  nave 
now  by  me,  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Synod  in  1637  ; 
in  which  are  fome  Things,  well  worthy  of  Notice  f 
whi^h  have  never  yet  feen  the  Light. 


PART    II.       difocuntenance  Irreguaritics        351 

And  in  the  Engllfh  Nation,  no  longer  ago  than 
the  laft  Century,  to  what  a  monflrous  Degree 
did  Error,  Faclion  and  Confuflon  prevail,  in  a 
little  Time  ?  Says  Mr.  BAXTER,  in  the  Dedication 
cf  his  Saints  eve/lofting  Reft  to  the  People  of  his 
Charge,  "  Do  not  your  Hearts  bleed  to  look  up* 
«  on  the  State  of  ENGLAND  ?  And  to  think 
*(  how  few  Towns  or  Cities  there  be  (where  is 
ic  any  Forwardnefs  in  Religion)  that  are  not  cue 
<c  into  Shreds,  and  crumbled  as  to  Duft,  by  Se- 
*<  parations  and  Divifions  ?  To  think  what  a 
<f  Wound  we  have  hereby  given  to  the  very 
"  Chriflian  Name  ?  To  think  how  we  have  har- 
"  den'd  the  ignorant,  confirmed  the  doubting  ? 
"  And  are  our  felves  become  the  Scorn  of  our 
"  Enemies,  and  the  Grief  of  our  Friends  ?  And 
"  how  many  of  our  deareft,  beft  efleemed  Friends 
"  are  fallen  to  notorious  Pride,  or  Impiety  ;  yea, 
<f  fome  to  be  worfe  than  open  Infidels  ?  Thefe 
"  are  Pillars  of  Salt  :  See  that  you  remember 
"  them."  Yet  more  obfervable  to  our  Purpofe, 
are  the  Words  of  Mr.  EDWARDS,  in  his  Addrefs 
to  Lords  and  Commons  aiTembled  in  Parliament,  f 
"  Things  now  are  grown  to  a  flrange  Pals  (tho* 
"  nothing  is  now  ftrange )  and  every  Day  they 
*c  grow  worfe  and  worfe,  and  you  can  hardly 
"  conceive  and  imagine  them  fo  bad  as  they  are. 
"  No  Kind  of  Blafphemy,  Herefy,  Diforder,  Con- 
"  fufion,  but  is  found  among  us,  or  a  coming  in 
"  upon  us  :  For  we,  inftead  of  a  Reformation9 
"  are  grown  from  one  Extreme  to  another,  fallen 
*'  from  Scylla  to  Charibdis,  from  popifh  Innovati- 


•j-  See  the  Dedication  to  his    Catalogue   and  Difcovery 
*    of  the   Errors*    Blafphemies,  &c.     Of  the   Seflaries 
in  ENGLAND  frsm  42  to  46. 


The  Obligations  to  PART    IL 

*'  ons  and  Superftitions  to  damnable  Herefies, 
"  horrid  Blafphemies,  Libertinifm  and  fearful  A* 
"  narchy.  Our  Evils  are  not  removed  and  cured, 
"  but  only  changed  ;  one  Difeafe  and  Devil 
<c  hath  left  us,  and  another  as  bad  is  come  in  the 
"  room  ;  yea,  this  lafl  Extremity,  into  which 
"  we  are  fallen,  is  for  more  high,  violent  and 
*c  dangerous  in  many  Refpefts.---  You  have  moil 
"  noble  Senators,  done  worthily  againft  Papifts,--* 
**  you  have  made  a  Reformation  ;  but  with  the 
'ff  Reformation  have  we  not  a  Deformation,  and 
•"  worfe  Things  come  in  upon  us  than  any  we 
*<  ever  had  before  ?  —  Many  among  us  have 
"  put  down  the  Scriptures,  flighting,  yea,  blaf* 
'"  pheming  them.  We  have  thofe  who  overthrow 
'fc  the  Doftrine  of  the  Trinity,  oppofe  the  Divi* 
"  nity  of  CHRIST,  flight  the  Apoftks.  We  have 
<c  many  who  call  down  to  the  Ground  all  Minif- 
"  ters  in  all  the  reformed  Churches  ;  who  have 
<c  caft  "out  the  Sacraments,  .Baptijin  and  the  Lord's 
ic  Supper  ;  who  make  nothing  of  LORD'sDays  ; 
"  with  whom  all  public  Prayer  is  queilioned,  and 
"  minijlcrial  Preachings  denied.  Many  of  the  Sec- 
"  taries,  in  thefc  Days,  deny  all  Principles  of 
"  Religicfn  ;  are  Enemies  fo  all  holy  Duties,  Or- 
"  der,  Learning  ;  overthrowing  all.  What 
"  Swarms  are  there  of  all  Sorts  of  illiterate^  me- 
"  chanic  Preachers  !  Yea,  of  PFomen,  and  Boy- 
"  Preachers  !  What  a  Number  of  Meetings, 
«  of  Sectaries  in  this  City,  eleven  at  lead  in  one 
<c  Parifh  !  And  are  not  thefe  Errors,  Herefies, 
u  and  Schifms,  Blots  in  our  Reformation  ,?  Do 
"  they  not  blemifh,  and  call  a  dark  Shadow  upon 
"  all  the  light  Part  ?  Are  they  not  the  dead  Flies 
*e  in  the  Apothecaries  Ointment,  fending  forth  a 
rt  {linking  Savour  ?  Arc  they  not  our  Reproach, 

•and 


PART    if.       dlfcountenance  Irregularities.       353 

<c  and  the  Rejoicing  of  the  common  Enemy  ? 
<f  The  Scandal  of  the  weak,  and  the  blazing-Star 
"  of  the  Times  ?" 

And  in  the  Book  to  which  thefe  PafTages  are 
prefixt,  we  are  prefented  with  a  moil:  awful  Ac- 

:  count  of  the  Power  of  Enthufiafm,  in  fuch  Inftan- 
ces  of  Wildnefs,  both  in  Matters  of  Faith  and 
Praftice,  as  are  enough  to  make  one  fland  afton- 
ifh'd.  No  lefs  than  172  Errors  in  Dottrine  are 
particularly  noted  down,  with  many  blafphemous 
Speeches,  and  Jlrange  Actions  ;  all  which,  there  is 
Reafon  to  think,  are  Charges  juftly  made  againfl 
thefe  Times  :  And  they  befpeak  the  dangerous 

'•State  of  the  Churches,  when  Men's  PaiTions  are 
over-heated,  and,  as  the  EiFeft  hereof,  Diforders 
begin  to  make  Difcovery  of  themfelves  in  one 
Place  and  another. 

I  might  go  on  and  {hew,  that,  in  the  Times  of 
the  firft  Reformers,  the  Spirit  of  Error  wrought  af 
ter  juft  the  fame  Manner  ;  proceeding  from  one 
Thing  to  another,  'till  it  had  deluded  Multitudes 
with  extatic  Raptures,  Vifions  and  Revelations  ; 
and,  at  lad,  prepared  them,  by  falfe  and  danger 
ous  Principles  in  Religion,  for  Actions  grofly  crimi 
nal,  and  carnal—  But  I  forbear;  and  only  add, 

That  even  in  the  Apoftles  Days,  there  was  a 

dreadful  Spread  of  Error,   with  its  ufual  mifcbic- 

vous  Effects,  through  the  wicked  Craft  of  fome, 

Uand  the  mifguided  ignorant  Zeal  of  others,  who 

were    admired   as   Preachers*       Many,   by    their 

Means,  were   then  deluded,  and  kept  under  the 

.Power  of  Delufion,  notwithilanding  the  Care  of 

'infpired  Men    to   undeceive   them   :       Nay,    fo 

ftrangely  were  they  besjuil'd,  that  they  preferred 

Z  'M 


354  The  Obligations  -to  PART    If; 

falfe  Teachers  to  the  very  Apojlles  ;  yea,  they 
were,  at  length,  brought  to  entertain  fuch  Preju 
dices  againfl  them,  as  a&ually  to  withdraw  Com 
munion,  both  from  them,  and  the  Churches  under 
their  InfpeClion.  THEY  WENT  OUT  FROM  us,  fays 
the  Apoftle  JOHN.  $  And  thefe  are  they,  as  JUDE 
expreffes  it,  f  WHO  SEPARATE  THEMSELVES.  They 
were  Men,  it  fliould  feem,  of  two  great  Spiritual 
ity  to  hold  Communion  with  the  apoflolic  Churches  : 
But  it  was  only  in  their  own  vain  Conceit  ;  for 
whatever  Opinion  they  might  have  of  themfelves 
as  fplntual  Men,  they  were  really  fenfual,  not  hav 
ing  the  SPIRIT.  *  And  fo  far  were  they  from 
being  a  more  holy  Community,  after  their  Separati- 
cn,  that  they  might  rather  be  called,  the  Syna 
gogue  of  Satan  ;  as  the  Phrafe  is  in  the  Revela 
tion  of  JOHN.  §  There  were  many  Deceivers  in 
the  apoftolick  Times  ;  and  through  their  Influ 
ence,  many  and  great  Errors  got  into  the  Church, 
to  the  Hindrance  of  the  Gofpel.  The  Myjlery 
of  Inquiry  began  to  work,  while  the  dpoftles  'were 
yet  alive.-—  Damnable  Herejies  were  broach'd  in 
their  Day  ;-— the  main  Do6lrines  of  Chriftianity, 
either  wholly  denied,  or  explained  away,  or  fo 
corrupted  with  Jewijb  or  Pagan  Mixtures,  as  that 
they  were  removed  from  the  Religion  of  CHRIST 
to  another  Gofpel.  The  Doftrines  of  Grace  were 
abus'd  then,  as  they  have  been  fince,  into  an  Oc- 
cafion  of  LASCIVIOUSNESS  ;  -—  yea,  the  Quakirija 
Notion  of  Jinhfs  Perfection  began  to  take  Place,, 
in  thofe  Days,  and  almoft  every  other  bad  Tenet,. 
or  difirderly  Practice,  which  has  plagued  the  Churck] 
of  GOD,  in  other  Ages. 


J   i  John  2.  19.     f  Verfc    19.     *  Jude  Verfe 
§  Chapt.  2.  V.  9. 


PART    II.      difcountenance  Irregularities.       355? 

We  may  fee,  from  thefe  Hints,  the  pernicious 
Tendency  of  Delujion,  and  what  a  fad  Effecl  it 
has  on  the  Well-Being  of  the  Church.  And  can 
it  then  be  too  carefully  guarded  againft  ?  'Tis 
true,  it  may  do  a  great  Deal  of  Mifchief,  not- 
withftanding  our  moil  faithful  Endeavours  to  fup- 
prefs  it.  It  has  often  made  fad  Havock  in  the 
World,  as  we  have  feen.  But  how  much  more 
fatal  would  have  been  its  Influence,  if  it  had  not: 
been  reftraine'd  and  check'd  ?  What  would  have 
become  of  the  poor  Church  of  GOD,  if  it  had  not: 
been  for  the  faithful  Care  of  the  Apoftles  in  their 
Day,  and  of  other  eminent  Servants  of  CiiRisr 
in  their's,  to  guard  People  againft  the  Infection 
of  it  ?  This,  under  GOD,  is  the  only  Way  to 
Hop  its  Progrefs.  And  mall  we,  who  are  Mini- 
flers,  let]  it  alone  to  take  its  Courfe?  What  can 
be  more  dangerous  to  the  Churches  ?  How 
fhould  it  be,  but  they  fliould  be  filled  with  Con- 
fufion  ?  And  can  we  fuffer  our  felves  to  fit  ftill, 
and  not  exert  our  felves  to  prevent  the  coming 
on  of  fuch  a  State  of  Things?  We  are  objig'd  to 
nothing,  if  not  to  the  Ufe  of  our  moft  faithful 
Endeavours  for  the  Prefervation  of  our  Churches, 
when  in  fuch  Danger. 

Thefe  now  are  the  Obligations,  we  are  under  ta 
appear  againft  the  Dif orders-  of  the  Times  :  They 
are  thus  folemn  and  weighty.  And  yet,  whac 
little  Influence  have  they  had  upon  thofe,  from 
whom  better  Things  might  have  been  expefted, 
in  fuch'a  Day  as  this  ?  What  a  ftrange  Back- 
wardnefs  have  fome,  in  the  Miniftry,  difcovered 
to  fpeak  plainly  and  freely,  in  the  Caufe  of 
Truth  and  Holinefs  ?  How  ready  have  they 
been  to  excufe  themfelves  ?  How  eafily  per- 
Z  2  Iwaded 


356  The  Obligations  tQ  FART    II. 

fwaded  to  Silence,   upon  one   Confideration  or 
another  ? 

Some  have  been  unfettkd  in  their  Thoughts, 
net  knowing  what  Judgment  to  make  about  the 
Sta'e  of  Things  in  the  Land.     This  was,  at  firft, 
I  believe,  the  real  Truth  of  the  Cafe,  as  to  many  ; 
and  to  this  it  might  be  owing,    they  faid  fo  lit 
tle,  either  one  Way,  or  'tother.     But  they  have 
now  had  fufficient  Opportunity  to  form  their  Judg 
ment  :     And  'tis  indeed  high  Time,   for  all  to. 
know  their  own  Minds,  and  aft  fteadily   according 
to  fome  fi-xt  Principles  or  other.     Nor  may  it  be 
fuppofed  there  are  any,  unlefs  fuch   as  are  evi- 
dencly  carried  away  with  their  Imaginations,  but 
muft  be  convinced  there  have  been  horrid  Extrava 
gancies  afted  in  the  Land  :     And  however  they 
behave  in  other  Things,  can  they  be  excus'd,  if 
they  don't  condemn  thefe,  and  endeavour  in  all, 
proper  Ways  to  guard  People  againft  the  bad  In 
fluence    of  them,   whether  on   the  right  Hand,' 
or  the  left  ? 

Some,  I  doubt  not,  would  have  appeared  againftj 
tb.e  Irregularities  of  the  Times,  but  that  they  wen 
fearful,  left,. if  they  fpake  againft  what  was  badj( 
they  fhouM  difcourage  what  was  good.  They  fa1 
the  coming  on  of  foire  Things  they  could  not  bi 
difapprove,  yet  dare  not  exprcfs  their Sentimeni 
with  Freedom  left  they  fhoulddawp  the  good  Won 
they, were  in  Hopes  GOD  was  beginning  to  can 
on  in  the  Land.  This  was,  at  firft,  the  true  Reafoi 
and  may  be  fo  ftill,  in  Refpeft  of  fome,  why  the; 
have  faid  and  done  fo  little,    to  the  Difcouraj 
ment,  even  cf  fuch  Things   as   they  would 
glad  were  fuppreilcd.     But  'tis  certainly  an  Ern 
they  have  fallen  into.      For  hew  fliali  Religic 

iulfc 


PART    II.      difc mint enance  Irregularities.       357 

. 

fuffer  by  pointing  out  faeh  Things  as  are  real 
ly  evil,  and    endeavouring  in    reafonabfe  Ways 
.-  to  give  Check  to  them  ?     'Tis  true,   the  mod 
!  Chriftian   Methods   of   Conduct  maj   be   abufed 
by   the  Lufts  of  Men,  and   made  an   Occiiion 
I  of  Sin  :     But  if  this  is  a  good  Reafon,  why  xve 
;  Cioald  fit  Hill,  and  do  nothing  for   the  Suppref- 
foi    of  Difordtrs,  we    may,   for  the  fame   Rea- 
•' fon,  be  excus'd  from  ever  exerting  our  felves  in 
I  the  Caufe  of  GOD ;  for  we  can  neither  fay,  or  do 
any  Thing,  but  it  may  be  turu'd  to  an  ill  life. 
I  The  only  Queftion  is,  whether  'tis  not  reafonable, 
$  when  Diforders  arife,  all  futablc  Care  iliould  be  . 
j-  taken  for  the  Suppreilion  of  them  ?     And  if  it 
;•  is,  the  Fear  left  an  ill   Improvement  fnould   be 
jj  made  of  our  faithful  Endeavours  to  this  End,  is 

•  no  fufficient  Excufe  for  the  Non  Uie  of  them. 
I  \fhis  indeed  iliould  make  us  cautious  ;     putting 
:us  upon  our  Guard  again  ft  all  Methods  of  adling, 
(but  fuch  as  are  juft,  and  wife,  and  good  :     And 
!  while  thcfe  are  the  only  ones  we  life,  we  are  cer- 
jtainly  in  the  Way  of  our  Duty  :     And  as  there 

is  no  other  Way  prefcribed  by  the  Law  of  Chrif- 
Itianlty  to  keep  Things^from  running  into  Confu- 

lion  ;  fo  neither  will  any  o:her  be  effe6lual  to 
;this  Purpofe  :  And  we  have  feen  enough,  one 

would  think,  fully  to  fatisfy  us  of,  this.  What 
: ..has  been  gain'd  by  Silence,  and  doin^;  nothing  ? 
!  Has  Religion  been  at  all  ferved  ?  1  lave  D-.for- 
:«ders  abated  ?  'Have  they  not  rather  increafed  ?- 
ij  Han't  they  ipread  themfelves  ail  over  the  Land, 

•  and  got  fuch  Head  as  to  dene  Opposition  ?  Hiii'c 
:they  broke  many  of  our  Churches  to- Pieces,  giv 
ing   a   moil  dreadful   Shock  to   the  Intereft    of 
CHRIST  in  them  ?     And  will  any  bs   ftill  afriid- 
to  rife  up  againft  them  ?     This  Fear  of  harting 
the  tVorkof  GOD)  by  particukrly  pointing  one 

Y  3  the 


358  The  Obligations  to  '        PART    II. 

the  working  of  Satan,  or  Mens  own  Lufls9  and 
faithfully  teftifying  againfl  it,  has,  I  verily  be 
lieve,  been  a  Means  of  giving  the  Devil  as  great 
an  Advantage  over  us,  as  any  one  Thing  in  thefe 
Times  :  Nor  unlefs  it  be  taken  out  of  his  Hands, 
may  we  expe6l  but  that  he  will  baffle  us  in  all 
our  other  Attempts. 

Some,  again,  have  been  reftraihed  from  fpeak- 
ing,  through  that  Fear  of  Man  which  bringeth  a 
Snare.  And,  if  I  may  be  free  to  declare  my 
Thoughts,  this  I  take  to  have  been  the  great 
Fault  of  the  Clergy,  in  thefe  Days.  Have  we  not 
too  generally  conniv'd  at  foine  Things,  we  were 
clearly  fatisfied  were  much  amifs  ?  Han't  we 
betray'd  a  Want  of  Courage  openly  to  fpeak  our 
Mind,  and  make  a  Stand,  in  Time,  againfl:  that 
which  has  prov'd  very  mifchievous  ?  Some,  it 
may  be,  were  afraid  of  hurting  their  Ufefulnefs 
among  their  People,  and  upon  this  Account  kept 
their  Thoughts  to  themfelves,  inflead  of  commu 
nicating  them  for  the  Good  of  their  Flocks  ;  not 
having  Faith  enough  to  leave  the  Affair  of  their 
further  Serviceablenefs  with  their  Mafter  and 
LORD. — Some,  perhaps,  may  have  been  under  aa; 
undue  Influence,  thro'  Fear  of  a  Removal  from 
their  People,  and  being  turn'd  out  into  the  wide 
World,  without  the  Profpe6t  of  any  Means  for 
the  Support  of  themfelves  and  Families  ,*  not 
duly  confidering,  that  their  heavenly  Father  feed' 
cth  the  Fowls  'of  the  Air,  and  that  he  has  taught 
them  to  argue  herefrom,  are  not  ye  much  better  than 
they  ? —  Others  might  be  too  much  in  Fear  of 
the  Breath  of  frail,  fallible,  mortal  Man.  They 
foon  faw  the  Fate  of  thofe,  who  put  on  Refolu- 
tion,  and  declared  againfl:  the  Errors  of  the  pre- 
fent  Day,  that  they  were  reproach'd  and  vilified, 

having 


1?  A  R  T    II.       dif countenance  Irregularities.       3  59 

having  all  Manner  of  Evil  falfly  fpoken  agairrft 
them  for  Righteoufnefs  Sake  ;  that  all  the  op 
probrious  Names,  that  could  be  thought  of,  were 
freely  called  upon  them,  as  Pharifces,  Hypocrites, 
Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD,  Betrayers  of  CHRIST, 

,  Wolves  in  Sheep's  Chathing,  Injtruments  of  the  De 
vil,  and  what  not  :  And  they  might  be  too  will- 
Ing  to  efcape  thefe  Cenfures  ;  not  remembring, 
that  'tis  a  real  Honour  to  be  flandered  for  the 
Name  of  CHRIST,  and  in  Defence  of  bis  Caufe 

-  and  Kingdom. 

And  'tis  remarkable,  the  Slanders  which  have 
been  eaft  upon  fuch  as  have  ventured  openly  to 
fland  up  for  the  Truths,  and  Ways  of  CHRIST,  at 
this  Day,  are  the  very  fame,  for  Kind,  with  thofe 
which  have  been  thrown  upon  the  tike  Difcourag- 
ers  of  Enthufiafm  and  Dif order,  in  all  Ages  of  the 
Church.  In  our  own  Land,  when  the  like  Extra- 
ordinaries  difturb'd  the  Churches,  in  former  Times, 
which  do  now  ,*  what  was  the  Language  in 
which  thofe  eminent  Servants  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  who 
teftified  againft  the  prevailing  Errors,  were  then 
fpoken  of  ?  Why,  they  were  th.Qugh.t-  worthy 
no  better  a  Style  than  that,  Legal  Preachers* 
"Baals  Fr lefts,  Popifh  Faftors,  Scribes,  Pbarifees  ; 
yea,  Oppofers  cf  CHRIST  himfelf.  And  thefe  were 
the  Names  commonly  beftow'd  upon  the  beft 
Men,  in  our  Nation,  by  the  Sectaries  of  the  laft 
Age.  Mr.  BAXTER  carries  the  Matter  yet  fur 
ther,  when  he  fays,*  "-.As  I  have  feeii  "Letters 
"  of  the  Ranters  fo  full  of  the  moft  hideous 
cc  Blafphemies  againft  GOD,  as  I  thought  had  ne~ 
"  ver  come  from  g»y  but  the  damned  ;  fo  have* 
"  I  had  Letters  from  thefe  Men  my  felf,  fo  full 

*  Vol.  2.  P.  322- 

Z  4.  '        **  of 


The  Obligations  to  PART  .  II; 

«c  of  railing  and  reviling  from  End  to  End,  as  I 
«<  never  faw  before,  from  the  Pen  of  Man,  either 
Ci  mad  or  fober,  nor  ever  heard  from  the  Mouth 
<c  of  any."  And  the  like  Treatment,  the  moil 
celebrated  firfl  Reformers* met  with,  in  GERMANY, 
from  the  Ptfionaries  and  Errorifts,  in  their  Day. 
LUTHER'S  Name  was  as  odious  to  the  Sectaries,  as 
to  the  Papjfts.  MUNCER,  that  Ring-Leader  of  re 
ligious  Dijlurbance^  wrote  a  Book,  againft  him,  full 
of  Bitternefs  and  Rage,  wherein,  among  other 
Things,  he  reproaches  him  as  one  deflitute  of  the 
Spirit  of  Infpiratim9  and  favouring  only  the  Things 
that  are  carnal,  f  He  thundered  out  Raikries  a- 
gainft  him,  faying,  he -was  as  bad  as  the  Pope  ; 
^ea,  worfe  than  the  Pope  himfelf,  and  that  he 
preached  only  a  carnal  Go/pel  :  And  the  like  Re 
proaches  were  cafe  upon  him  by  the  other  over- 
kcated  Zealots,  againfl  whom  he  defended  the 
Truths  of  the  Gofpel,  CALVIN  alfo,  that  glorious 
Leader  in  the  Reformation,  was  bafely  reviled, 
not  only  by  the  Cathollcks^  but  the  Libertines  and 
JLnthufiafts  ;  who  charg'd  him  with  Herefy,  Am 
bition,  affecting  a  new  Papacy,  ftudying  to  heap  up 
Riches ;  with  being  a  Raikr,  and  every  Thing  that 
was  bad  :  Yea,  fo  hateful  was  CALVIN,  to 
the  Sectaries,  in  his  Day,  that  fome  named  their 
Dogs  CALVIN  in  Contempt  of  him  ;  others  changed 
CALVIN  into  CAIN  ;  many  were  fo  cut  of  Charity 
with  him,  that  they  profeft  they  kept  away  from 
the  LORD'S  Supper,  becaufe  they  could  not  hold  Com-, 
minion  with  kirn.  *  But  more  than  all  this,  the 


f  LUTHERUM  flapellat,  quod  entbufiaJiicQ  Spiriiu  care- 
ac  ;  et  nihil,  nifi  carnalie^  fapiat.  Vic.  LUTH.  a 
MELCH.  APAIVI.  Page  128. 

*  Vita  CAJ.VINI  a   MELCH.  APAM.  et  B£?>A. 


PART    II.       dif countenance  Irregularities.       361 

jjpoftles  themfelves  were  fpoken  of  with  great 
Contempt,  by  fome  bold  Pretenders  to  Religion, 
in  thofe  primitive  Times.  There  were  thofe 
then  who  could  boaft  of  their  fuperior  Excellen 
cies,  and  fet  themfelves  above  the  very  Apoftles 
of  JESUS  CHRIST.  This  is  alluded  to,  in  that  far- 
caftical  Language  of  the  dpoftlc,  *  We  dare  not 
make  our  f elves  of  the-  Number^  or  compare  our  felves 
with  fome  who  commend  themfehes.  And  in  a  few 
Verfes  onwards,  Not  he  tbat  conmendeth  himfelf 
Is  approved,  but  whom  the  LORD  commendetb.  And 
at  the  fame  Time,  that  they  thus  exalted  them 
felves,  they  craftily  endeavoured  to  leflen  the 
Character  of  the  dpoftles,  and  lead  People  into  a 
.mean  and  pitiful  Thought  of  them.  His  Letters, 
fay  they  are  weighty  ;  .  but  his  bodily  Pre fence  is 
weak,  and  his  Speech  contemptible.  £  Perhaps,  the 
great  St.  PAUL  was  not  able  to  deliver  himfelf 
with  that  Noife  and  Vehemence,  for  which  theft 
Preachers  might  be  admir'd  among  theCoRiNTHiANs; 
and  they  afperfe  him  on  this  Account,  as  a  con 
temptible  Speaker  j  fcarce  worth  hearing.  Nor  is 
this  the  worfh  Treatment  he  met  with  :  He 
had  probably  been  fpoken  of  in  Terms  of  great 
Ignominy  and  Difgrace,  and  fb  as  to  put  People 
out  of  all  Conceit  of  him.  Hence  that  Language 
of  his,  f  Being  reviled,  we  blcfs  ;  beihg  defamed, 
we  intreat  :  We  are  made  as  the  Filth  of  the  IVorld^ 
and  are  the  Off-f cowing  of  all  Things  to  this  Day.--* 
fBut  the  great  SAVIOUR  himfelf  could  not  efcape 
the  Reviling*  of  Men.  He  was  called  as  bad 
Names  as  any  of  his  Difciples  have  ever  been 
fince.  Deceiver,  Iwpoftor,  Blajpbemer  ;  yea,  Reel- 


*  2  Cor.  io, 
4.  12.  13, 


12.     £  2  Cor.  10.  10.     f  z  Cor. 


362  The  Obligations  to  PART    II. 


b,  were  the  flanderous  Names,  freely  heaped 
on  him.  —  And  Ihould  it  not  reconcile  us  to  the 
Reproaches  we  may  have  call;  upon  us,  for  our 
appearing  in  Vindication  of  the  Faith  and  Order 
of  the  Gofpel,  that  we  fuffer  no  more  than  the 
beffc  and  greateft  Men  in  the  World  have  done 
before  us,  and  in  the  fame  Caufe  ?  Yea,  that 
that  we  are  Fellow-Sufferers  with  the  Apoftles  of 
CHRIST  ;  yea,  with  CHRIST  himfelf.  Is  the  Dif- 
ciple  above  his  Mafler  ?  Is  the  Servant  above  his 
LORD  ?  If  they  have  called  the  Mafler  of  the 
Houfe  Beelzebub,  how  much  more  flail  they  call  them 
of  his  Hou/bold  ?  What  is  it  more  than  may  be 
expe&ed  ?  And  fliall  we  think  much  of  it,  when 
it  is  no  other  than  our  MASTER  and  SAVIOUR 
fuffered  before  us  ? 

In  fine,  there  are  yet  others,  who  may  have 
been  kept  from  teftifying  againft  the  bad  Things 
of  the  prefent  Day,  from  a  Man-leafing  Difpqfi- 
tion.  They  have  not,  perhaps,  been  fo  careful  to 
confult,  what  was  their  Ditty,  what  was  for  the 
Intereft  of  the  Redeemer  and  his  Kingdom,  as  what 
would  beft  fecure  them  in  the  good  Opinion  of  the 
People.  Are  there  none,  whofe  Conduct  has  dif- 
covered  them  to  have  been  too  much  the  Ser 
vants  of  Men  ?  /Have  none  criminally  accommo 
dated  themfelves  to  the  Times,  behaving  as  might 
[  beft  take  with  the  Populace  ?  Would  to  GOD  it 
were  injurious  to  fugged  fuch  a  Thing  againfl 
any  one  Minifter  in  the  Land  /  And  the 
rather,  becaufe  it  argues  a  Spirit  fo  different  from 
that  which  appear'd  in  PAUL,  that  glorious  Cham 
pion  for-  CHRIST.  Do  I  fcek  to  pleafe  Men,  fays 
he  ?f  He  difdains  the  1  hought  ;  and  for  that 

f  Gal.  i-  10. 

noble 


PART    II.       dif countenance  Irregularities        3  63 

noble  Reafon,  If  I  pleafed  Men,  I  jloould  not  be  the 
Servant  of  CHRIST.*  And  he  triumphs  in  that  Lan 
guage,  in  the  Behalf,  not  only  of  himfelf,  but  his 
Fellow- Labourers  in  the  Kingdom  and  Patience  of 
JESUS  CHRIST,§  As  we -were  allow  d  of  GOD  to  be  put 
in  Tntft  with  the  Gofpcl,  even  fo  we  fpeak,  not  as  PLEAS 
ING  MEN,  BUT  GOD,,  who  trieth  our  Hearts  :  For 
neither  at  any  Time  ufcd  we  flattering  Words,  as  ye 
know  ;  nor  a  Cloke  of  Righteoufnefs  :  GOD  is 
Witnefs.  Neither  of  Men,  fought  we  Glory,  neither 
of  you,  nor  yet  of  others. 

Let  me  add  here  two  or  three  Things  from 
Mr.  BAXTER,  well  worthy  the  ferious  Conildera- 
tion  of  fuch  of  us,  as  may  over-value  the  Fa 
vour  or  Cenfure  of  Man,  and  herefrom  be  under 
Temptation  to  fall  into  the  bafe  Sin  of  Man- 
pleajing. 

"  Confider,  fays  he,f  what  a  Slavery  you  chufe 
"  when  you  thus  make  your  felves  tiie  Servants 
"  of  every  Man,  whofe  Cenfures  you  fear,  and 
"  whofe  Approbation  you  are  ambitious  of,  What 
"  a  Task  have  Man-pleafers  ?  How  needlefly  do 
"  they  enthrall  themfelves  ?  They  have  as  ma- 
"  ny  Matters  as  Beholders  /  No  Wonder,  if  it 
"  take  them  off  from  the  Service  of  GOD.  — 
"  Remember,  what  a  pitiful  Reward  you  feek. 
"  O  mifemble  Reward  /  The  Thought  and 
"  Breath  of  mortal  Men  /  inflead  of  GOD,  in- 
*c  ftead  of  Heaven,  this  is  their  Reward  !  — -  If 
"u  nothing  elfe  will  cure  this  Difeafe,  at  left  let 
"  the  Impoffibility  of  pleafing  Men,  and  attaining 


*  V.  Ibid.     §   i  ThefT.  2.  4,  5,  6. 

t  Vol.  i.  of  his  Works >  P.  176.  and  onwards. 

"  your 


<; 


<c 


The  Obligations  to  PART    II; 

your  Ends,  fuffice  againft  fo  fruitlefs  an  At 
tempt.  And  here  I  {hall  fliew  you,  how  im- 
poffible  it  is,  or,  at  left,  a  Thing  which  you 
cannot  reafonably  expe6t  (  i.  )  Remember, 
<f  what  a  Multitude  you  have  to  pleafe,  and 
<f  when  you  have  pleaied  fome,  how  many  more 
"  will  be  flill  unpleafed,  and  how  many  dipleaf- 
"  ed,  when  you  have  done  your  beft.— -(2.)  You 
((  will  have  many  factious  Zealots  to  pleafe,  who 
"  are  ruled  by  the  Intereft  of  an  Opinion  or  a  Seft  ; 
<f  and  thofe  will  never  be  pleafed,  unlefs  you 
"  will  be  one  of  their  Side  or  Parry,  and  conform 
"  your  felf  to  their  Opinions.  If  you  be  not  a- 
galnjl  them,  but  fet  yourielves  to  reconcile  the 
Differences  in  the  Church,  they  will  hate  you 
as  not  promoting  their  Opinions.— If  you  will 
be  Neuters,  you  fhall  be  us'd  as  Enemies.  If 
you  be  never  fo  much  for  CHRIST,  and  Holi- 
nefs,  and  common  Truth,  all  is  nothing,  unlefs 
you  be  alfo  for  thsm,  and  their  Conceits.  (3.  ) 
You  have  Men  of  great  Mutability  to  pleafe  : 
That  may  one  Hour  be  ready  to  worfhip  you 
as  Gods,  and  the  next  to  flone  you,  or  account 
you  as  Devils  ;  as  they  did  by  PAUL  and 
CHRIST  himfelf.  What  a  Weather-Cock  is  the 
Mind  of  Man  ?  efpecially,  of  the  Pulgar  and 
the  Temporanious  ?  When  you  have  fpent  all 
your  Days' in  building  your  Reputation  on  this 
Sand,  one  Blaft  of  Wind,  at  laft,  does  tumble 
it  down,  and  all  your  Coft  and  Labour  is  loft. 
Serve  Men  as  fiibmiffively  arid  carefully  as  you 
can,  and,  after  all,  fome  Accident,  or  failing  of 
their  unrighteous  Expectations,  may  make  all 
that  you  ever  did  forgotten.  Jf  ever  you  put 
fuch  Confidence  in  a  Friend,  as  not  to  coafider 
it  is  poffible,  he  may  one  Day  prove  your  E- 
nemy,  you  know  not  Man  ;  and  may,  perhaps, 

"  be 


PART    II.      iKfcwntenance  Irregularities. 

"  be  better  taught  to  know  him  to  your  Coft. 
"  (4.)  There  is,  among  Men,  fo  great  a  Con- 
"  trariety  of  Judgments,  and  Diipofitions,  and  In- 
ff  terefls,  that  they  will  never  agree  among 
"  themfelves  ;  and  if  you  pleafe  one,  the  reft 
"  will  be  thereby  difpleafed.  —  -  Church  Differ- 
"  ences  and  Se6ts  have  been  found  in  all  Ages  : 
"  And  you  cannot  be  of  the  Opinion  of  every 
"  Party  ;  and  if  you  be  of  one  Party,you  muft  dif- 
"  pleafe  the  re  ft.  If  you  are  of  one  Side  in  contro- 
"  verted  Opinions,  the  other  Side  accounteth  you 
"  erroneous  ;  and  how  far  will  the  fuppos'd  In- 
<c  tereft  of  their  Caufe  and  Party  carry  them?— 
"  You  cannot  be  every  Thing  ;  and  if  not,  you 
u  muft  difpleafe  as  many  as  you  pleafe.  Yea, 
"  more,  if  mutable  Man  fliould  change  never  fo 
"  oft,  they  will  expeci  that  you  mould  change  as 
"  faft  as  they  ;  and  whatever  their  contrary 
"  Interefls  require,  you  muft  follow  them  in  : 
"  Whatever  Caufe  or  Aftion  they  engage  in,  be 
*'  it  ever  fo  devilifh,  you  mufl  approve  of  it,  and 
"  countenance  it,  and  all  that  they  do,  you  muffc 
"  fay  is  well  done.  In  a  Word,  you  mufl  teach 
your  Tongue  to  fay  any  Thing,  and  you  mufl 
fell  your  Innocency,  and  hire  out  your  Copfci- 
"  ence,  or  you  cannot  pleafe  them.  MICHAIAH 
"  mufl  fay  with  the  reft  of  the  Prophets,  Go  and 
"  pro/per  ;  or  elfe  he  will  be  hated,  as  not  pro- 
"  pbejying  Good  of  AHAB,  but  Evil,  I  Kings:  22. 
u  8.  And  ho\v  can  you  ferve  all  Interefts  at 
"  once  ?  It  feems,  the  Providence  of  GOD  hath, 
"  as  of  Purpofe,  wheeled  about  the  Affairs  of 
"  the  World  to  try,  and  fliarne  Man-pkafers,  and 
"  Tcmpmfcrs  in  the  Sight  of  the  Sun.  It  is  evi- 
"  dent  then,  that  if  you  will  pleafe  all,  you  mufi: 
"  at  once  both  fpeak  and  be  filent,  and  verify 

"  Contradiftions, 


" 


«66  The  Obligations  to          PART    II; 

fc  Contradictions,  and  be  in  many  Places  at  once, 
«  and  be  of  all  Men's  Minds,  and  for  all  Men's 
«  Ways.  For  my  Part,  I  mean  to  fee  the  World 
"  a  little  better  agreed  among  themfelves,  before 
•c  I  will  make  it  my  Ambition  to  pleafe  them. 
"  If  you  can  reconcile  all  their  Opinions,  and  In- 
<f  terefts,  and  Complexions,  and  Difpofitions,  and 
"  make  them  all  of  one  Mind  and  Will,  then  hope 
"  to  pleafe  them." 

He  has  Abundance  more  upon  this  Head, 
which  we  may,  fome  of  us,  do  well  to  confider, 
as  what  is  well  adapted  to  our  Cafe  at  this  Day, 

I  have  hitherto  confidered  M'mifters  as  the  Per- 
fons,  more  efpecially  obliged  to  difcountenance  the 
bad  Things,  prevailing  in  the  Land  ;  and  now  go 
on  to  obferve. 

That  this  is  the  Duty  of  all  in  general.  Not 
that  I  would  put  any  upon  acting  out  of  their 
proper  Sphere.  This  would  tend  rather  to  Confu- 

fion  than  Reformation.  Good  Order  is  the 

Strength  and  Beauty  of  the  World. — The  Prof- 
perky  both  of  Church  and  State  depends  very 
much  upon  it.  And  can  there  be  Order,  where 
Men  tranfgrefs  the  Limits  of  their  Station,  and 
intermeddle  in  the  Bufinefs  of  others  ?  So  far 
from  it,  that  the  only  effe&ual  Method,  under 
GOD,  for  the  Redrefs  of  general  Evils,-  is,  for* 
every  one  to  be  faithful,  -in  doing  what  is  proper 
for  him  in  his  own  Place  :  And  even  all  may  pro 
perly  bear  a  Part,  in  rectifying  the  Dlforders  of  this 
Kind,  at  this  Day. 

Civil  Rulers  may  do  a  great  deal,  not  only  by 
their  good  Example,  but  a  wife  Ufe  of  their  Aur 


PART    II.      dif countenance  Irregularities: 

thority,  in  their  various  Places,  for  the  Suppreffion 
of  every  Thing  hurtful  to  Society,  and  the  En 
couragement  of  whatever  has  a  Tendency  to 
make  Men  happy  in  the  Enjoyment  of  their 
Rights,  whether  natural  or  Chriftian.  And  herein 
chiefly  lies,  (as  I  humbly  conceive)  the  Duty  of 
Rulers,  at  this  Day.  'Tis  true,  as  private  Men, 
they  are  under  the  fame  Obligations  with  others, 
to  make  their  Acknowledgments  to  CH  R i s  T  ; 
and  doubtlefs,  if  HE  was  vifibly  and  externally  (ac 
cording  to  the  Cuftom  among  Kings  and  Cover* 
nors  )  to  make  his  folemn  Entry  into  the  Land, 
as  their  SAVIOUR  and  LORD,  ( <-  it  would  be  ex- 
"  peeled  they  fhould,  as  public  Officers,  make 
"  their  Appearance,  and  attend  him  as  their  Sove- 
"  reign  with  fucable  Congratulations,  and  Mani- 
"  feftations  of  Refpeft  and  Loyalty  ;  and  if 
«  they  fliould  (land  at  a  Diilarice,  it  would  be 
ff  much  more  taken  Notice  of,  and  awaken  his 
•c  Difpleafure  much  more,  than  fuch  a  Behaviour 
"  in  the  common  People."  f  ^ut  ^ie  Cafe  is 
widely  different,  where  his  fuppofed  Entry  is  iu  a 
fpiritual  Senfe  only,  and  after  fuch  a  Manner  even 
in  this  Senfe,  as  that  there  is  a  great  Variety  of 
Sentiments  about  it,  among  the  befl  Sort  of  Men, 
of  all  Ranks  and  Conditions  :  Nor  does  it  ap 
pear  to  me,  when  the  Cafe  is  thus  circumftanc'd, 
that  it  is  either  the  Duty  of  Rulers,  or  would  be 
Wifdom  in  them,  by  any  authoritative  Afts  to  de 
termine,  whofe  Sentiments  were  the  moil  agreable 
to  Truth.  And  as  to  their  Appointment  of  Days 
of  Tkankfgiving,  or  fafting,  on  this  Account,  there 
jnuft  be  an  Impropriety  in  itr  fo  long  as  that 


f  Vid.  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  Book  of  the  late  Revival  of 
Religion,  Page  125,  and  fome  following  Pages. 

Complaint 


The  Obligations  r*  PART    IL 

Complaint  of  GOD  againfl  the  Jews  is  to  be  feent 
in  the  Bible,  Behold  ye  fafl  for  Strife  and  Debate  ! 
Their  Duty  rather  lies  in  keeping  Peace  between 
thofe,  who  unhappily  differ  in  their  Thoughts 
about  the  State  of  our  religious  Affairs  :  And 
their  Care  in  this  Matter  ought  to  be  impartial. 
Each  Party,  without  Favour  or  Affe£lion,  fliould 
be  equally  reflrain'd  from  Out-rage  and  Infult. 
Thofe,  who  may  think  themfelves  Friends  to  a 
Work  of  GOD,  Ihould  be  protected  in  the  Exer- 
cife  of  all  their  juft  Rights,  whether  as  Men,  or 
Chriftians  :  So  on  the  other  Hand,  thofe  who 
may  be  Enemies  to  Error  and  Confufion,  have  the 
fame  Claim  to  be  prote6ted. 

And  if,  on  either  Side,  they  invade  the  Rights  of 
others,  or  throw  out  Slander,  at  Random,  to  the 
Hurt  of  their  Neighbour's  Reputation  and  Ufeful- 
nefs,and  the  -bringing  forward  a  State  of  Tumult  and 
Difordcr  ;  I  fee  not  but  the  civil  Arm  may  jnftly 
be  ftretched  forth  for  the  Chaflifement  of  fiich 
Perfons  ;  and  this,  though  their  Abufes  fhould 
be  offered  in  the  Name  of  the  LORD,  or  under 
the  Pretext  of  the  moft  flaming  Zeal  for  the  RE 
DEEMER'S  Honour,  and  ferving  the  Interefl  of  his 
Kingdom  :  For  it  ought  always  to  be  accounted 
an  Aggravation  of  the  Sin  of  Slander^  rather  than 
an  Excufe  for  it,  its  being  committed  under  the 
Cloak  of  Religion,  and  Pretence  for  the  Glory  of 
COD  ;  as  it  will,  under  thefe  Circumffonces,  be 
of  more  pernicious  Tendency.  I  am  far  from 
thinking,  that  any  Man  ought  to  fuffer,  either 
for  his  religious  Principles,  or  Cou  drift  arifing  from 
them,  while  he  is  no  Difturber  of  the  civil  Peace  ; 
but  when  Men,  under  the  Notion  of  appearing 
zealous  for  GOD  and  his  Truths,  infuk  their  Bet 
ters,  vilify  their  Neighbours,  and  fpirit  People  to 

Strife 


PART     II.       dif countenance  Irregularities.       369 

Strife  and  Faftion,  I  know  of  no  Perfons  more 
fu table  to  be  taken  in  Hand  by  Authority  :  And 
if  they  fuffer,  'tis  for  their  own  Follies  ;  nor 
can  they  reafonably  blame  any  Body  but  them- 
felves  :  Nor  am  I  ailiam'd,  or  afraid,  to  profefs 
it  as  my  Opinion,  that  it  would  probably  have 
been  of  good  Service,  if  thofe,  in  thefe  Times, 
who  have  been  publicity  and  out-ragiouily  reviled, 
had,  by  their  Complaints,  put  it  properly  in  the 
Magijlrates  Power,  to  reflrain  fome  Men's  Tongues 
with  Bit  and  Bridle. 

Private  Chriftians  alfo,  of  all  Ranks  and  Condi 
tions,  may  do  fomething  towards  the  Suppreffioa 
of  thefe  Errors,  by  mourning  before  the  LORD 
the  Diflionour  which  has  hereby  been  reflected 
on  the  Name  of  CHRIST,  and  .  Injury  done  to 
Souls  ;  by  being  much  in  Prayer  to  GOD  for 
the  Out-pouring  of  his  SPIRIT,  in  all  defirable  In 
fluences  of  Lightj  and  Love,  and  Peace  ,•  by 
taking  good  Heed  that  they  ben?t  themfelves 
drawn  alide,  avoiding  to  this  End,  the  Company 
and  familiar  Converfe  of  thofe,  who,  by  good 
Words  and  fair  Speeches,  might  be  apt  to  deceive 
their  Hearts,  but  efpecially  an  Attendance  on  re 
ligious  Exercifes,  where  the  Churches  and  Mini/try 
are  freely  declaimed  againft  by  thofe  who  have 
gone  out  from  them,  under  the  vain  Pretence  of 
being  more  holy  than  they  ;  and  in  fine,  by  a 
faithful  Performance  of  thofe  Duties,  which  arife 
from  the  various  Relations  they  fuftain  towards 
each  other :  As  thus,  if  they  are  Children,  by  heark 
ening  to  the  Advice  of  their  Parents,  and  obey 
ing  and  honouring  them  in  the  LORD  ;  and  if 
they  are  Parents,  by  counfeling,  reproving,  warn 
ing,  retraining  and  commanding  their  Children, 
as  there  may  be  Occafion  :  If  they  are  Servants, 
A  a  '  by 


37°  The  Obligations  to  PART    IL 

by  pleafing  their  Mafters  well  in  all  Things,  not 
defrauding  them  of  their  Time  or  Labour,  but 
accounting  them  worthy  of  all  Honour,  that  the 
Name  of  GOD  be  not  blafphemed  ;  and,  if 
they  are  Mafters,  not  only  by  providing  for  their 
Servants  Things  honeft  and  good,  but  by  keeping 
them  within  the  Rules  of  Order  and  Decorum, 
not  fuffering  them  to  negleft  the  Religion  of 
the  Family  at  home,  under  Pretence  of  carrying 
it  on  elfewhere  ;  efpecially,  when  they  continue 
abroad  'till  late  in  the  Night,  and  fo  as  to  unfit 
themfelves  for  the  Services  of  the  following  Day. 

In  thefe,  and  fuch  like  Ways,  all  may  exert 
themfelves  in  making  a  Stand  againft  the  Progrefs 
of  Error  :  And  all  are  oblig'd  to  do  fo  ;  and 
for  this  Reafon,  among  others  I  han't  Room  to 
mention,  becaufe  the  lafl  Days  are  particularly 
mark'd  out  in  the  Prophecies  of  Scripture,  as  the 
Times  wherein  may  be  expefted,  the  Rife  of , SE 
DUCERS.  Says  the  Apoftle  PAUL,  in  his  fecond  E- 
fjftle  to  TIMOTHY,  f '  This  know  alfo,  that  in  the 
LAST  DAYS  perillous  Times  /ball  come.  And  the 
Description  he  gives  of  the  Perfons,  on  whofe 
Account  the  Times  would  be  perillous,  is,  in 
Part,  that,f  Of  this  Sort  are  they  which  creep  into 
Houfes,  and  lead  captive  filly  Women  ;  laden  with 
Sins  ;  led  away  with  divers  Lujls  ;  ever  learning^ 
and  never  able  to  come  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Truth. 
He  further  charafterifes  them,*  as  thofe  who  refijl 
the  Truth  ;  and  Hill  adds,g  But  evil  Men  and  Se 
ducers  fhall  wax  worfe  and  worfe,  deceiving,  and  be 
ing  deceived,  The  like  unhappy  Times  he  has  in 


Chapt.  3.     Verfe  i.    f  Verfc  6.   7.    *  Verfe  8, 
§  Verfe  13. 

his 


PART    II.       dif  countenance  Irregularities*      37  X 


his  Eye,  when  he  fays,  in  his  former  Epiftte,^ 
the  SPIRIT  fpeaketh  exprefly,  that,  in  the  LATTER 
TIMES,  fome  [ball  depart  from  the  Faith,  giving  Heed 
to  feducing  Spirits  :-—  Nor  is  this  any  other  that! 
what  our  SAVIOUR  himfelf  foretells,  when  he  fays> 
*Falfe  Chrijh,  and  falfe  Prophets  /hall  arife,  and  /bait 
/hew  Signs  and  Wonders,  to  /educe,  if  it  were 
ble,  even  the  Elect.  And  very  obfervable  is 
Caution  he  adds  hereupon,  f  But  take  ye  Heed  i 
Behold,  I  have  foretold  you  all  Things.  And  'tis 
certainly  very  feafonable,  as  well  as  good  AdviCei  ; 
and  we  {hall  be  much  wanting  to  our  felves^  if 
we  don't  a6l  upon  it  as  thofe,  who  efteem  them* 
felves  oblig'd,  by  it,  to  the  ucmoft  Watehfulnefs 
and  Circumfpe&ion* 

'Tis  true^  we  read  of  the  comiiig  oti  of  a  g!o~ 
rious  State  of  Things  in  the  LAST  DAYS  :  No? 
will  the  Vifion  fail.  —  -We  may  rely  upon  it,  the 
Prophefies,  foretelling  the  Glory  of  the  RE* 
DEEMER'S  Kingdom,  will  have  their  Accompli  fli- 
ment  to  the  making  this  Earth  a  Paraaife,  ill 
Compare  with  what  it  now  is.  But  for  the 
f  articular  Time  when  this  will  be,  it  is  not  for  u£ 
to  know  it,  the  Father  having  put  it  in  his  own  Poitf* 
er  :  And  whoever  pretend  to  fuch  Knowledge* 
they  are  wife  above  what  is  written;  and  thV 
they  may  think  they  know  much,  they  really  knoW 
nothing  as  to  this  Matter* 

It  may  be  fugge{ted,g  that  "  the  Work  of  GOD'S 
"  SPIRIT  that  is  fo  extraordinary  and  wonderful* 
is  the  dawning,  or,  at  left,    a  Prelude  of  thafi 
glorious  Work   of  GOD,   fo   often   foretold  in 

$  Chape.  4.    Ver.  i.     *  Mark  13.  22,     f  Vet.   23* 
§  Mr.  EDWARD'S  late  Bppk,  P,  96, 

A  a  a  Scripture* 


" 


372  The  Obligations  to  PART     II. 

"  Scripture,  which,  in  the  Progrefs'and  Iflue  of 
**  it,  fhall  renew  the  whole  World."  But  what 
are  fuch  Suggeftions,  but  the  Fruit  of  Imaginati* 
on  ?  Or  at  beft,  uncertain  Conjefture  ?  And 
can  any  good  End  be  anfwered  in  endea\rouring, 
upon  Evidence  abfolutely  precarious,  to  inftill  in 
to  the  Minds  of  People  a  Notion  of  the  millen 
nium  State,  as  what  is  NOW  going  to  be  introduc 
ed  ;  yea,  and  of  AMERICA,*  as  that  Part  of  the 

World, 


While  I  was  writing  this  Page,  I  received  a  Letter 
from  a  worthy  Gentleman,  in  which,  fpeaking  of 
Mr.  EDWARDS'S  late  Book*  he  has  thefe  Words,4 c  I 
*'  am  furpriz'd  at  his  long  Labour  to  prove  the  Mil" 

<c  lennium  fhall  begin  in  AMERICA. He  has  been 

*c  fo  modeft  as  to  conceal  the  Reafon  of  this  ;  but 
*'  it  may  eafily  be  gathered  from  what  he  has  often 
"  faid  to  private  Perfons,  viz.  that  he  doubted  not, 
'*  the  Millennium  began  when  there  was  fuch  an  A- 
"  wakening  at  NOR-TH-HAMPTON  8  Years  paft." 

«« So  that  Salvation  is  gone  forth  from  NORTH- 

"  HAMPTON,  and  NORTH-HAMPTON  muft  have 
**  the  Praife  of  being  firft  brought  into  it." 

To  which  let  me  add  a  few  Words,  from  the  late 
venerable  Dr.  INCREASE  MATHER,  which  will 
(hew,  how  widely  good  Men  may  differ  from  one 
another,  in  Matters  of  meer  Conjecture.  They  are 
thefe,  "  I  know  there  is  a  blefied  Day  to  the  vifible 
"  Church  not  far  off  :  But  it  is  the  Judgment  of 
**  very  learned  Men,  that,  in  the  glorious  Times 
*'  promifed  to  the  Church  on  Earth,  AMERICA  will 
*'  be  HELL.  And,  ahhough  there  is  a  Number  of 
<6  the  ElecT:  of  GOD  to  be  born  here,  I  am  verily 
'*  afraid,  that,  in  Procefs  of  Time,  NEW-£N- 
*'  GLAND  will  be  the  wofulleft Place  in  all  AMERI- 
<c  CA  ;  as  fome  other  Parts  of  the  World,  once 
*6  famous  for  Religion,  are  now  the  dolefulleft  on 
«*  Earth,  perfea  Pidures  and  Emblems  of  /////' 

Wiien 


PART    II.      d'fcountenance  Irregularities.       37 £ 

World,  which  is  pointed  out  in  the  Revelations  of 
GOD  for  the  Place,  where  this  glorious  Scene  of 
Things,  "  will,  probably,  firft  begin  ?  ):  How 
often,  at  other  Times,  and  in  other  Places,  has 
the  Conceit  been  propagated  among  People,  as  if 
the  Prophecies  touching  the  Kingdom  of  CHRIST, 
in  the  latter  Days,  were  NOW  to  receive  their  Ac- 
compliment  ?  And  what  has  been  the  Effect, 
but  their  running  wild  ?  So  it  was  in  GERMANY, 
in  the  Beginning  of  the  Reformation.  The  ex 
traordinary  and  wonderful  Things  in  that  Day, 
were  look'd  upon  by  the  Men  then  thought  to 
be  mod  under  the  SPIRIT s  immediate  Dire&ion, 
as  "  the  Dawning  of  that  glorious  Work  of 
GOD,  which  fliould  renew  the  whole  World  ;" 
and  the  Imagination  of  the  Multitude  being  fired 
with  this  Notion,  they  were  foon  perfwaded,  that 
the  Saints  were  now  to  reign  on  Earth,  and  the 
Dominion  to  be  given  into  their  Hands  ;  And 
it  was  under  the  Influence  of  this  vain  Conceit, 
(in  which  they  were  ftrengthened  by  Fifwns,  Rap 
tures  and  Revelations)  that  they  took  up  Arms  a- 
gainft  the  lawful  Authority^  and  were  deftroy'd, 
at  one  Time  and  another,  to  the  Number  of  an 
HUNDRED  THOUSAND.^ 

It  was  owing  to  the  fame  Delufion,  propagat 
ed,  the  following  Century,  by  KOTTERUS,  DRABRI- 
cms,  and  PONIATOVIA,  under  the  pompous  Shew 
of  immediate  Revelation  from  GOD,  that  great 


"  When  you  fee  this    little  Academy    [  The  Words 

cc  were   fpoken  in    the  College- Hall  ]   fallen    to  the 

**  Ground, — then  know  it  is  a  terrible  Thing,which 

<c  GOD  is  about  to    bring  upon  this,  Land."     Vid. 

MATHER'S  Difcourfeon^forc  knows  not  hi sTi me. "P. 27. 

§    Vid .  RUTHERFURD'S  fpirltual  Antichrift. Page  7 m 

A  a  3  Difturbances 


Tbt  Obligations  to          PART    II, 

Pifturbances  were  again  revived.  The  learned 
COMENIUS  was  carried  away  with  this  Dream  ; 
yerily  believing,  that  the  happy  State  of  the  Church 
^ras  NOW  to  take  Place,  And  'tis  well  known, 
that  this  fame  Pretence  of  the  near  Approach  of 
the  MILLENNIUM,  the  promifed  Kingdom  of  the 
MESSIAH,  was  the  Foundation-Error  of  the  French 
Prophets,  and  thofe  in  their  Way,  no  longer  ago 
than  the  Beginning  of  this  Century  ;  And  fo 
infatuated  were  they  at  laft,  as  to  publifh  it  to 
the  World,  that  the  glorious  Times  they  fpake 
pf3  would  be  mamfeft  over  the  whole  Earth,  within 
the  Term  of  THREE  YEARS.  And  what  Set  of 
Men  have  ever  yet  appear'd  in  the  Chriftian 
World,  whofe  Imaginations  have  been  thorowly 
warmed,  but  they  have,  at  length,  wrought  them* 
felves  up  to  a  full  Ajjltrance,  that  NOW  was  the 
Time  for  the  Accompliftiment  of  the  Scriptures, 
$nd  the  Creation  of  the  new  Heavens,  and  the  new 
jLarth  ?  No  one  Thing  have  they  more  united 
ly  concurred  in,  to  their  own  fhameful  Difap- 
pointment,  and  the  doing  unfpeakable  Damage 
to  the  Interefl  of  Religion.  —  A  fufficient  Warn 
ing,  one  would  think,  to  keep  Men  modeft  ; 
and  reflrajn  them  from  Endeavours  to  lead  Peo 
ple  into  a  Belief  of  that,  of  which  they  have  no 
fufficient  Evidence  ;  and  in  which,  they  may  be 
Deceived  by  their  vain  Imaginations,  as  Hundreds 
Thoufands  have  been  before  them, 


There  are  unqueflionably  many  Prophecies  con-. 
periling  CHRIST,  and  the  Glory  of  his  Kingdom,  flill 
to  be  fulfilled  ;  and  it  may  be  of  good  Service 
to  labour  to  beget  in  People  a  Faith  in  thefe 
Thipgs  ;  or,  if  they  have  Faith,  to  quicken  and 
flrengthen  it  .*  But  'it  can  anfwer  no  good  End 
to  leacl  People  into  the  Belief  pf  any  particular 

-  Time, 


PART    II.       difcountenance  Irregularities.      3  75 

Time,  as  the  Time  appointed  of  GOD  for  the  Ac- 
complifliment  of  thefe  Purpofes  of  his  Mercy  ; 
becaufe  this  is  one  of  thofe  Matters,  his  Wifdom 
has  thought  fit  to  keep  concealed  from  the  Know 
ledge  of  Man.  Our  own  Faith  therefore  upon  this 
Head  can  be  founded  only  onConjefture;  and  as  'tis 
only  the  like  blind  Faith  we  can  convey  to  others, 
we  fliould  be  cautious,  left  their  Conduct  mould 
be  agreeable  to  their  Faith.  When  they  have 
imbib'd  from  us  the  Thought,  as  if  the  glorious 
Things,  fpoken  of  in  Scripture,  were  to  come  for 
ward  in  their  Day,  they  will  be  apt  (as  has  often 
been  the  Cafe  )  to  be  impatient,  and  from  their 
Qjficioufnefs  in  tendring  their  Help  where  it  is  riot 
needed,  to  diflerve  the  Intereft  of  the  Redeemer. 
Pertinent  to  the  prefent  Cafe,  and  to  thefe  Times, 
are  the  Words  of  Mr.  WILLIAM  ALLEN,  with 
which  I  {hall  finilli  this  Part  of  our  Difcourfe. 
Says  he,  f  fpeaking  of  CHRIST,  cc  He  (lands  in- 
"  Need  of  no  unrighteous,  or  irregular  Help  from 
"  Men,  to  give  him  Pofleffion  of  his  Kingdom  in 
'*  the  World.  He  who  hath  given  Laws  to  his 
"  Subjects,  to  direcl:  and  govern  them  in  their 
"  Aftions,  will  never  take  it  well  from  any  of 
"  them,  if  they  (hall  break  any  of  his  Laws,  in 
"  Zeal  for  him,  or  to  advance  his  Kingdom  in 
u  the  World.-—  The  Scripture  faith,  he  that  bc- 
"  Heveth,  doth  not  make  hafte,  Ifa.  28.  16.  He  doth 
"  not  ufe  any  indirect  Means  to  haften  that, 
<*  which  GOD  hath  promifed,  as  being  impatient 
"  of  his  Delay  to  fulfill  and  perform  it.  And 
«  therefore  all  irregular  Pra&ices  of  Men  to  haft- 
«c  en  the  fetting  up  of  CHRIST'S  Kingdom  in  the 
<c  World,  are  an  Argument  rather  of  Diffidence 
**  and  Diftrufh  in  CHRIST,  as  Kng  of  his  Church  ; 


t  His  fPorksP.  6j6 

A  a  4  cither 


576          The  Obligations,  &c.          PART    II. 

<c  either  of  his  Power,  as  if  he  could  not  fet  up 
"  his  Kingdom  without  fuch  human  Helps  as  they 
"  deem  neceflary-to  that  End  ,*  or,  of  his  Wif- 
"  dom,  as  not  regarding  the  heft  Time,  and  fit- 
"  teft  Seafon  to  do  it  in  ,•  Or,  of  his  Care  of 
<c  his  Church,  in  not  hailening  more  to  her  Re- 
<c  lief  and  Deliverance  from  all  powerful  Ene- 
*c  mies.  When  Men  will  take  Chrift's  Work  out 
"  of  his  own  Hands,  and  lead  the  Way,  and  go 
"  before  him  in  it,  as  if  they  expefted  he  ihould 
4C  fecond  them,  and  affift  them  in  it,  it  is.  never 
"  like  to  profper  in  their's,  who  fo  ufurp  that 
<c  Authority.— -  And' when  they  find  themfelves 
*'  entangled  with  infuperable  Difficulties,  its  very 
"  likely  they  will  thereupon  entertain  hard  and 
"  unbecoming  Thoughts  of  CHRIST  himfelf,  as  if 
fc  he  had  defer  ted  his  own  Caufe,  in  leaving  them 
f-  to  themfelves  in  their  raili  Undertaking.  And 
<c  its  well  if  they  do  not  thereupon  bring  them- 
"  felves  under  a  ftrong  Temptation,  either  to 
"  Difobedience,  or  to  queftion  whether  thofe 
<c  Grounds,  upon  which  judicious  and  fober  Chrifl:- 
<£  ians  expe6t  the  Churches  great  Deliverance 
f '  from  the  Hands  of  her  Enemies,  be  true  or 
<(  no  :  Nay,  its  well  if  they  don't  thereby  bring 
"  themfelves  to  queftion  the  Truth  of  the  other 
<c  great  Do6lrines  of  Chriftianity,  and  flip  into 
<c  Atheifm^  as  its  certain  fome  have  done,  upon 
cc  the  Mifcarriage  of  their  raili  Undertaking. 
"  Let  none  then  out  of  a  hafly  and  miftaken 
<c  Zeal,  and  under  Pretence  of  ufhering  the  King- 
*c  dom  of  CHRIST  into  the  World,  attempt  any 
"  Thing  in  Order  thereto,  that  tends  to  diilurb 
u  the  public  Peace," 


PART 


PART   III. 


Shewing,    in    many 

wherein  thofe,  who  have  ap- 
pear'd  againft  the  Diforders 
prevailing  in  the  Land,  have 
been  injurioujly  treated. 

will  not  be  fuppofed,  unlefs  by  Per- 
fons  evidently  weak,  or  prejudiced,  that  I 
have  it  inView,in  thisPart  of  myDifcourfe, 
to  plead  for  thofe  who  have  appear 'd'  a- 
gainft  the  Diforders  of  the  Times,  in  every  Thing 
they  have  faid,  or  done  :  Nor  will ,  any  imagine, 
I  am  fo  unbounded  in  my  Charity,  as  to  enter 
tain  in  the  grofs,  a  good  Opinion  of  ALL,  who 
cry  out  of  Irregularities,  as  though  they  muft 
needs  be  true  Converts,  becaufe  they  fpeak  againft 
fuch  Things  as  ought  to  be  condemned. 

There  are,  no  Doubt,  both  fecret  Hypocrites, 
and  open  Sinners,  among  thofe,  on  the  one  Hand, 
who  have  an  ill  Thought  of  many  Things  going 
on  in  the  Land,  as  well  as  among  thofe,  on  the 
other,  who  fpeak  of  the  prefent  Commotion  as,  in 
the  main,  a  marvellous  Work  of  divine  Grace  :  And 
on  either  Side,  fome  may  have  conducted  them- 
felves  in  a  Manner  not  to  be  juftifted.  Where 
in  any,  in  teitifying  againft  what  they  might 

judge 


378     Tbofc  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    III 

judge  amifs  at  this  Day,  have  afted  unworthy  their 
Chara&er  as  Men  or  Chriftians,  let  their  Behavi- 
our  be  fairly  pointed  out,  and  all  the  Blame  fatt 
ened  on  them  they  deferve.  I  have  nothing  to 
objeft  againfl  this.-—  But  what  I  think  injurious 
is,  the  wrongfully  and  indiscriminately  accufing  thofe 
who  complain  of  the  Times  ;  or  the  doing  this 
in  an  unchrijlian  Manner,  and  fo  as  to  reflect  an 
unjuft  Odium  on  them. 

To  come  to  Inftances  ,*  in  mentioning  of 
which,  I  fliall  not  trouble  my  felf  about  Order, 
but  fet  Things  down  as  they  may  occur  to  my 
Mind. 

The  Difcouragers  of  the  bad  Things  of  the  prc- 
fent  Day,  have  been  publickly  faulted  as  to  their 
Method  of  Judging  about  the ' (f  religious  Operati 
on,  on  the  Minds  of  Men,  that  has  been  carried 
on  of  late  in  NEW-ENGLAND  :"  And-"  fo  far  as 
the  Ground  of  their  Error  has  been  in  the  Un- 
derflanding,  and  not  in  the  Difpofition,"  it  has 
been  faid,u  Fundamentally  to  lie  inthreeThings." 

I.  They  are  faid  *c  to  have  greatly  erred  in 
"  the  Way,  in  which  they  have  gone  about  to 
«  try  this  Work,  whether  it  be  a  Work  of  the 
"  SPIRIT  of  GOD,  or  no  ;  viz,  in  judging  of  it 
te  a  Priori,  from  the  Way  it  began,  the  Inftru- 
<c  ments  that  have  been  employed,  the  Means 
"  that  have  been  made  Ufe  of,  and  the  Methods 
«  that  have  been  taken  and  fucceeded,  in  carry- 
"  ing  it  on."  If  by  this  Remark,  the  Gentleman, 
who  makes  it,  intends,  that  they  have  form'd  a 

j  Vid,  Mr,  EDWARDS'S  late  Boak,  Page  2.  and 
'onwards.  Judgmen> 


PART    III.        fpoken  agalnjl  Dif orders.         379 

Judgment  from  the  SOLE  Confideration  of  any,  or 
all  thefe  Things,  he  grofly  mifreprefents  them  to 
the  World.  I  never  yec  heard  of  one,  among 
the  whole  Number  of  thofe,  who  think  differently 
from  him  about  the  prefent  religious  Affair,  who 
fettled  his  Opinion,  in  the  Way  he  fpeaks  of.  If 
he  knew  of  any,  he  fliould  have  named  them  ; 
and  not  charged  this  partial  Manner  of  judging 
upon  all  in  general  But  if  he  means  only,  that, 
in  Order  to  judge  fairly  of  the  State  of  Religion, 
in  our  Churches,  they  take  into  Confideration 
the  Things  he  has  mentioned,  among  many  o- 
ther  ;  they  own  the  Charge,  and  think  they 
fhould  aft  below  their  Character  as  Men,  if  it 
could  not  be  made  good  upon  them. 

They  are  as  willing  as  he  can  be  to  leave  it 
with  the  alwife  GOD,  to  ufe  what  Means  and  /«- 
flruments  he  pleafes,  in  beginning  .and  carrying 
on  his  own  Work,  in  the  Hearts  of  Men  ;  and 
can  heartily  join  with  him  in  fubfcribing  to  the 
Truth  of  every  Text  he  has  brought  to  View  ; 
though  not  to  the  Pertinency  of  any  one  of  them, 
to  the  Purpofe  to  which  has  adduc'd  them.  For 
can  it,  with  Juftice,  be  called  "  avdire6ting  the 
SPIRIT  of  the  LORD,  or  a  Being  his  Counsellor," 
to  make  the  bed  Inquiry  we  are  able  into  a 
Work  faid  to  be  his,  and  to  fetch  in  Light  in  all 
the  Ways  proper  to  be  made  'Ufe  of  by  reafona- 
ble  Creatures  ?  'Tis  true,  if  a  Work  has  before 
been  proved  to  be  a  Work  of  GOZ),  and  nothing 
can  be  objefted  againfl  it,  but  only  that  the 
Means  and  Instruments  employed  in  it,  are  fuch 
as  the  Wifdom  of  Man  would  not  have  pitched 
upon,  this  is  fo  far  from  being  a  juft  Ground 
of  Exception,  that  it  would  be  to  reply  againfl 
to  infill  upon  it  j  and  it  might  be  proper 

in 


3  8o      Thofe  ill-  treated,  who  have      PART    III. 

in  fuch  a  Cafe,  to  fay,  "  God  gives  no  Account 
*'  of  his  Matters  ;  his  Judgments  are  a  great 
€f  Deep  :  He  hath  his  Way  in  the  Sea,  and 
"  his  Path  in  the  great  Waters,  and  his  Foot- 
"  fleps  are  not  known  :  And  who  ihall  teach 
"  GOD  Knowledge,  or  enjoin  him  his  Way,  or 
"  fay  unto  him  what  doeft  thou  ?"  But  what  is 
this  to  the  Affair  -under  Confederation  ?  Is  it 
not  the  great  Queftion  of  the  Day,  how  far,  and 
in  what  Refpe&s,  the  Work,  going  on  in  the  Land, 
is  the  Work  of  GOD?  And  are  there  not  great 
and  numerous  Difficulties  attending  it,  if  confi- 
dered  a  Pojieriori  ?  Are  not  the  Effefts  fuch,  as 
the  befl  and  wifefl  Men  in  the  Country  have  tho't 
themfelves  oblig'd  to  teflify  againfl  ?  And  in  an 
Affair  fo  circumftanc'd,  mould  not  we  be  juflly 
chargeable  with  partial  Negleft,  if  we  did  not 
fairly  confider  every  Thing  that  might  give  Light 
into  it  ?  Is  not  this  the  Expe&ation  of  GOD 
concerning  us  ?  And  can  we  otherwife  acquit 
our  felves  as  Beings  endowed  with  Reafon  and 
Underftanding  ? 

Befides,  it  ought  to  be  remembred,  tho'  GOD 
may  ufe  what  Means  and  Inftruments  he  pleafes 
in  carrying  on  his  own  Work  ;  yet,  he  will  ne 
ver  fleafe  to  make  Ufe  of  thofe  which  are  in  them 
felves  unfit  and  improper.  And  may  not  the" 
Means  and  Inftruments,  employed  in  a  Work 
faid  to  be  his,  be  of  this  Sort  ?  Is  this  impofli- 
ble  ?  Han't  it  often  been  the  Cafe  in  Faft  ? 
And  how  iliall  we  know  but  the  Means  and  In- 
Jiruments,  faid  to  be  ufed  by  GOD,  are  unlutable 
in  their  Nature,  or  fuch  as  would  refleft  Diflio- 
nour  upon  the  JVord  and  Institutions  of  GOD,  if 
we  may  not,  in  the  regular  Exercife  of  our  Un- 
derflandings,  judge  of  them  ?  What  greater 

Arrogance 


PART    III.       fpoken  againfl  Diforders.        38* 

Arrogance  is  it  to  judge  of  Meaps  and  Inflruments 
faid  to  be  employed  by  GOD,  than  of  a  Work 
faid  to  be  his  ?  If  we  may  judge  of  the  one 
without  "  direfting  the  SPIRIT  of  the  i  LORD/' 
we  may  with  as  much  Propriety  judge  of  the  0- 
ther  :  Nor  can  we,  in  many  Cales,  form  a  juft 
Judgment  of  the  latter,  without  duly  confidering 
the  former  ;  and  if  any  have  attempted  to  do 
this  in  the  prefent  Cafe,  "  they  may  not  wonder 
if  they  are  perplext  in  their  Thoughts  and  con 
founded."  Perhaps,  no  one  Thing  will  better 
enable  ferious,  well-difpos'd  Perfons>  to  make  a 
true  Judgment  of  the  late  Operation  upon  the 
Minds  of  People,  than  an  impartial  and  thorow 
Inquiry  into  the  Means  and  Inflruments  of  it's 
Rife  and  Progrefs  :  Nor  can  I  conceive,  why 
any  fliould  object  againft  fo  reafonable  a  Method 
of  Judging,  unlefs  they  are  apprehenfive,  if  thefe 
fhould  come  under  a  ftri6l  Examination,  the  Ufe, 
at  left  of  fome,  of  them  would  appear  to  be  inconfift 
en t  with  the  Perfections  of  GOD,or  the  ftanding  Re~ 
relation  of  his  Will  in  the  Scriptures. 

I  am  fenfible,  with  this  Gentleman,  that  "  this 
Work  has  been  carried  on  by  the  weak  and  fool- 
ijh"'  and  I  may  add,  the  finful  Things  of  this 
World  :  And  if  the  Work  it  felf  has,  in  many 
Inftances,  partook  of  the  Weaknefs,  and  Fooli/hnefs, 
and  Sinfulnefc,  of  the  Means  and  Inftrumetits,  thefe 
Things  will  mutually  illuftrate  each  other,  and 
mightily  help  in  forming  a  true  Judgment  a- 
bout  the  State  of  our  religious  Affairs.  And  if 
this  Gentleman  has  erred,  in  any  material  Points,  in 
the  Sentiments  he  has  expreiTed,  upon  this  Head, 
one  Reafon  may  be^  his  throwing  out  of  his 
Mind  thofe  weighty  Confiderations,  that  might 
bave  been  fuggefled  to  him,  had  he  duly  thought 

upon 


382       Thofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    IIL 

upon  the  Means,  and  Manner,  and  Injlruments,  of 
carrying  on  the  prefent  Work  :  Nor  muft  he 
take  it  amifs,  if  notwichftanding  all  that  he  has 
offered,  others  frill  think,  thefe  Things  require  a 
diftinft  and  full  Examination. 

I  am  fenfible  alfo,  that  "  the  Minifters  who 
have  been  chiefly  employ 'd,  fome  of  them  have 
been  meer  Babes  in  Age  and  Standing/'  Nor  do  I 
deny,  that  "  GOD  has  fufFered  their  Infirmities  to' 
appear  in  the  Sight  of  others  :"  Nor  that  "  he 
has  made  Ufe  of  their  Infirmities  and  Sins  for 
the  Chaftifing  ,'"  yea,  the  doing  real  Service  to 
others  *  But  then,  it  ought  to  be  confidered,  the 
Good  that  may  arife  out  of  thefe  Evils, .  is  no 
Argument,  either  that  GOD  approbates  them,,  or 
that  we  mould  :  And  though  we  ought  to  make 
a  wife  and  holy  Ufe  of  all  GOD's  Difpenfations  ; 
yet,  we  may  warrantably  look  upon  thofe  Things 
in  Providence  as  Evils,  which  really  are  fo,  and 
deprecate  them,  and  do  whatever  is  proper  to 
fupprefs  them  ;*  and  this,  notwithftanding  the 
Wifdom  of  GOD  may  know  how  to  make  them 
work  for  good,  to  them  that  love  him,  and  are  the 
Called  according  to  his  Purpofe. 

"  II.  Another  Foundation-Error  of  thofe,  who 
"  don't  acknowledge  the  Divinity  of  this  Work, 
"  is,  the  not  taking  the  Holy  Scripture  as  an 
"  whole,  and  in  itfelf  a  fufficient  Rule,  to  judge  of 
ic  fuch  Things  by.  '  The  Meaning  of  this 
Charge  is  explained  in  thefe  Words  which  follow, 
"  Thofe  that  I  am  fpeaking  of  will  indeed  make 
"  fome  Ufe  of  Scripture,  fo  far  as  they  think  ic 
*'  ferves  their  Turn  ;  but  don't  make  Ufe  of  it 
"  alone,  as  a  Rule  fufficient  by  it  felf,  but  make 
"  as  much,  and  a  great  Deal  mote  Ufe  of  other 

Things, 


PART    III.       fp oken  againft  Diforders.         383 

"  Things,  diverfe  and  wide  from  it,  to  judge  of 
"  this  Work  by."  Who  could  have  thought  to 
have  met  with  fuch  a  Charge  as  this  againft  thofe, 
who  have  ventured  their  Characters  to  Hand  up 
for  the  Scriptures,  in  Oppofition  to  Impulfes  ;  and 
publickly  pleaded  for  them  as  the  one  only  Rule, 
by  which  to  try  all  Matters  of  Faith,  as  well  fe- 
cret  Whiff  ers  and  fudden  ImpreJJlons  ?  —  Are  there 
any  who  have  done  more  Honour  to  the  Bible, 
in  thefe  .Times,  by  calliftg  Men  to  the  Law  and 
to  the  Teftimony,  both  from  the  Pulpit  and  the  Prefi9 
than  the  Perfons  here  reflected  on  as  making  an 
undue  Ufe  of  this  facred  Book  ?  Was  it  not  by 
Men  of  this  Character,  that  a  famous  Inftrument 
in  the  late  Extraordinaries,  was  depofed  from  the 
Miniflry,  for  the  Contempt  he  had  caft  upon  the 
infpird  Writings  ?  And  {hall  they,  notwithfland- 
ing,  be  condemn'd,  and  by  the  Lump  too,  as  pay 
ing  a  greater  Regard  to  other  Things,  than  even 
the  Bible  9  in  judging  of  the  State  of  Religion  in 
the  Land  ?  I  cannot  but  look  upon  this  Charge, 
in  the  Manner  in  which  it  is  levelled,  as  a  down 
right  Abufe  ;  and  would  hope,  the  Gentleman, 
upon  fecond  Thoughts,  will  be  fenilble  of  it 
himfelf.  But  he  goes  on  to  Particulars. 

"  i.  Some  make  Pbilofophy,  INSTEAD  of  the  ho- 
fe  ly  Scriptures  their  Rule  of  Judging  of  this 
"  Work  ;  particularly,  the  philofophical  Notions 
"  they  entertain  of  the  Nature  of  the  Soul,  it's 
"  Faculties  andAffe£tions."  There  is  an  evident 
Difference  between  uilng  Philofophy  as  an  Help  in 
order  to  underftand  the  Scripture,  and  the  placing 
it  in  the  ROOM  of  Scripture.  In  the  former  Senfe, 
I  ftippofe  this  Gentleman  will  not  deny,  but  Scrip" 
ture  and  PhllofopKy  may  very  well  confifl  toge 
ther.-— If  no  Ufe  might  be  made  of  Pkilofophy, 

in 


384      Thofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    III. 

in  explaining  the  Scripture,  how  monftrous  muft 
our  Conceptions  of  the  infinite  GOD  be,  while 
he  is  reprefented,  according,  to  the  Letter  of  num- 
berlefs  Texts,  as  having  Eyes,  and  Ears,  and 
Hands,  and  Feet  ;  and  as  being  fubjeft  to  the 
various  Paffions  of  Love,  and  Hatred  ;  Joy  and 
Grief  ;  Anger,  Wrath,  Revenge,  and  the  like  ? 
We  muft  be  allow'd  the  Exercife  of  our  Reafon, 
(  which  is  but  another  Name  for  what  is  here 
meant  by  Philofophy  )  or  we  fhall  be  liable  to  be 
wretchedly  impos'd  on  by  our  Imaginations :  Nor 
is  there  any  Error,  however  extravagant,  but  we 
fhall  be  in  Danger  of  falling  into  it.  If  we 
give  up  our  Underftandings,  how  fhall  we  be  a- 
ble  to  afcertain  the  Senfe  of  any  one  Text  of 
Scripture  ?  What  fhould  hinder  our  running  in 
to  all  the  Wilds  of  Delufion  ?-— But  this  Ufe  of 
Phikfophy,  I  conclude  this  Gentleman  will  not  ob 
ject  againft.  If  he  does,  I  fee  not  but  he  will 
be  felf-condemn'd  ;  for  he  has  himfelf,  ufider 
this  very  Head,  made  Ufe  of  more  Pbilofophy  (and 
in  a  Manner  not  altogether  exceptionable,  as  we 
may  fee  afterwards,  if  I  can  find  Room )  than  a- 
ny  one  that  I  know  of,  who  has  wrote  upon  the 
Times.-- And  as  to  the  other  Senfe  of  ufing  Phi- 
lofophy,  the  placcing  it  in  the  Room  of  Scripture, 
who  among  all  thofe  who  are  differently  minded 
from  this  Gentleman,  about  the  prefenc  Work, 
have  ever  made  fuch  a  Ufe  of  it  ?  Can  a  fin- 
gle  Inftance  be  produced  ?  Some,  perhaps,  may 
have  faid,  "  There  is  but  little  fober,  folid  Re- 
"  ligion  in  this  Work  ;  it  is  little  elfe  but  flafh 
"  and  Noife.  Religion  now-a-Days  all  runs  out 
"  into  Tranfports,  and  high  Flights  of  the  Paffi- 
"  ons  and  Affeftions."  And  will  it  hence  fol 
low,  that  they  make  Phylofophy,  INSTEAD  of  Scrip 
ture,  their  Rule  of  Judging  in  th^s  Matter  ?  Where 

is 


PART    III.        fpoken  againjt  Diforders.         385 

the  Connection  between  thefe  Things  ?  Perfons 
may  undoubtedly  be  of  the  Opinion,  that  the  Re 
ligion  of  the  prefent  Day  confifts  chiefly  in  a  Com- 
motion  in  the  Pajfions,  and  yet  pay  all  due  Honour 
to  the  Bible. 

"  2.  Many  are  guilty  of  not  taking  the  holy 
"  Scriptures  as  a  fufficient  and  whole  Rule,  where 
(f  by  to  judge  of  this  Work,  whether  it's  a  Work 
"  of  GOD,  in  that  they  judge  by  thofe  Things 
"  which  the  Scripture  don't  give  us  as  any  Signs 
"  or  Marks  whereby  to  judge  one  Way,  or  the 
«  other  ;  and  therefore  do  in  NO  WISE  belong 
"  to  the  Scripture-Rule  of  Judging,  viz  ;  the 
"  Ejfefts  that  religious  Exercifes  of  Mind  have 
"  upon  the  Body."  This  Gentleman,  fome  may 
be  ready  to  think,  inadvertently  forgot  what  he 
was  about,  when  he  wrote  this.  For  who  are 
the  Men  that  judge  of  the  prefent  Work,  by  the 
Appearance  of  extraordinary  bodily  Effects  ?  Are 
they  not  known  to  be  thofe,  who  have  laid  great 
Strefs  upon  Shrieking$,andSwoonmgs,andconvulfive- 
like  Agitations.,  as  though  they  were  fure  Marks  of 
.a  divine  Influence  ?  Han't  they  publickly  pleaded 
for  them  as  fuch  ?  Han't  they  openly  given 
GOD  Thanks  for  thefe  Manifeftations  ot  his 
Power  ?  Han't  they  often  prayed  for  the  like 
Tokens  of  his  Prefence  ?  And  have  not  the 
Perfons  here  blamed  for  judging  of  the  prefent 
Work  by  thefe  Things,  INSTEAD  of  the  Scripture, 
ever  difclaim'd  doing  fo  ?  Han't  they  perpetually  tc- 
ftified  againft  thefe  bodily  Exercifes  as  a  fure  Evidence 
of  the  SPIRIT'S  Operations  ?  Yea,  have  they  not, 
in  this  very  Article,  done  Honour  to  the  Bible,by 
pleading  that  they  are  not,  in  that  facred  Book, 
made  a  Mark  by  which  to  judge  of  a  Work  of 

B  b  '  GOD 


3S<5      Thofe  ill-treated,  wio  have     PART     IIL 

GOD  upon  Men's  Hearts  ?  I  may  appeal  to  all, 
acquainted  with  our  religious  Affairs,  whether  a- 
ny,  in  thefe  Times,  have  fpoken  more  freely  a- 
gainft;  a  "  Concern  about  the  involuntary  Moti 
ons  of  the  Fluids,  and  Solids  of  Men's  Bodies  ?" 
Or,  whether  they  han't,  all  along,  been  united  to 
a  Man  in  faying,  as  this  Gentleman  here  does, 
"  I  can't  fee  which  Way  we  are  in  Danger,  or 
"  how  the  Devil  is  like  to  get  any  notable  Ad- 
"  vantage  againft  us,  if  we  do  but  thorowly  do 
"  our  Duty  with  RefpecT:  to  thofe  two  Things, 
"  viz,  the  State  of  Perfons  Minds,  and  their  moral 
«  Conduft  ;  feeing  to  it,  that  they  be  maintain- 
«  ed  in  an  Agreeablenefs  to  the  Rides  that  CHRIST 
"  has  given  us"  Is  not  this  the  very  Thing  they 
have  always  fpoken  ?  And  if  fame  others  had 
been  alike  flam  and  faithful  in  urging  upon  Peo 
ple  a  Conformity  to  the  Gofpel,  in  the  moral  Tem- 
per  of  their  Minds,  and  Courfe  of  their  Lives,  as  a 
more  fefiptwal  Evidence  of  the  Reality  of  a  Work 
of  Grace,  than  that  which  arifes  from  a  Commotion 
in  their  Pajjlons,  we  had. probably  been  in  better 
Circumflances  at  this  .Day. 

I  (hall  only  add,  if  the  "  Effefts  that  the  Af 
fections  have  upon  the  Body,  do  in  NO  WISE  belong 
to  the  fcriptural-Rule  of  judging  of  this  Work," 
there  was  no  great  Need  of  the  Labour  of  five 
or  fix  Pages  in  their  Vindication  ;  and  we  may 
hope  for  an  eafy  Pardon,  if  we  forbear  remarking 
upon  what  is  there  offered. 

"  3.  Another  Thing  that  fome  make  their  Rule 
(-  to  judge  of  this  Work  by,  INSTEAD  of  the  holy 
"  Scriptures,  is  Hiftory,  or  former  Obfervation."  It 
may  be  here  faid  of  ffijloryi  as  of  Pbihfophy  under 

the 


PART     III.        fpoken  againfl  Diforders.         387 

the  former  Head,  that,  in  Subordination  to  the 
Scripture,  it  may  be  of  good  Service.  And  this  is  . 
the  Thought  of  this  Gentleman,  or  he  condemns  that 
in  others,  which  he  pra6tifes  himfelf ;  for  in  this 
very  Place,  where  he  is  fpeaking  againfl;  the  Ufe 
of  Hi/lory,  he  has  made  as  free  with  it  as  thole 
he  finds  Fault  with.  I  conclude  therefore,  'tis 
not  meerly  the  Ufe  of  Hiftory  he  obje£ls  againfl:, 
but  the  ufmg  it  INSTEAD  of  the  Scripture.  And  if 
any,  in  thefe  Times,  have  gone  into  fucb  a  Ufe 
of  it,  they  are  certainly  to  Blame  :  But  then, 
Care  flaould  be  taken  not  to  fatten  Blame  publick- 
ly  on  them,  without  Evidence  that  they  are  re 
ally  chargeable  with  it.  It  is  not  fufficient  to 
fay,  "  If  there  be  any  Thing  new  and  extraor- 
€<  dinary,  in  the  Circumftances  of  this  Work, 
**  that  was  not  obferv'd  in  former  Times, "that  is 
"  a  Rule  with  them  to  reject  this  Work,  as  not 
"  the  Work  of  GOD/'  This  is  nothing  more 
than  a  Repetition  of  the  Charge,  by  Way  of 
meer  Affirmation  ;  which  'ought  to  be  look'd  up 
on  as  of  no  Weight,  in  a  difputed  Point.  Nor 
does  it  much  mend  the  Matter  to  go  on  affirming,  \ 
"  Another  Way  that  fome  err  in  mating-'  Hljlory 
"  and  former  Obfervation  their  Rule  to  judge  of 
<c  this  Work,  -  INSTEAD  of  the  holy  Scripture,  is 
"  comparing  fome  accidental,  external  Circutn- 
'*  fiances  of  this  Work,  with  what  has  appeared 
"  fometimes  in  Entlmjiajls  ;  and  as  they  find 
*'  an  Agreement  in  fome  fuch  Things,  fo  they  re- 
"  je6b  the  whole  Work,  or,  at  left,  the  Subftancs 
"  of  it,  concluding  it  to  be  Entbujiafm."  This 
is  only  qfferting  what  others  deny,  and  are  firmly 
perfwaded  cannot  never  be  prov'd.  Some  {hew 
of  Proof,  'tis  true,  is  here  offered.  "  So,  great 
"  Ufe  has  been  made,  to  this  Purpofe,  of  many 
"  Things  that  are  found  among  the  QUAKERS.— 
B  b  2  "So 


388      Tbofe-  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    III. 

"  So,  to  the  fame  Purpofe,  fome  external  Appear* 
"  ances  that  were  found  among  the  FRENCH  PRO- 
"  PHETS,  and  fome  other  ENTHUSIASTS,  in  former 
"  Times,  have  been,  of  late,  trump'd  up  with 
"  great  Aflurance  and  Triumph."  If  inftead  of 
roundly  affirming  (  which  is  the  eafieft  Thing  in 
the  World)  this  Gentleman  had  condefcended  to 
fhow,  wherein  the  Perfons,  he  here  blames,  had 
made  Ufe  of  any  Thing,  either  among  the  QUA 
KERS,  or  FRENCH  PROPHETS,  or  other  ENTHUSIASTS, 
as  their  Rule  in  judging  of  this  Work,  INSTEAD 
of  the  Scripture,  he  might  have  done  fomething 
towards  confirming  his  Point  ;  but  what  he  has 
offered,  as  it  now  (lands,  can't  be  thought  to  be 
of  any  Force,  unlefs  it  be  taken  for  granted 
(which  is  fo  unreafonable,  I  can't  fuppofe,  this 
Gentleman  will  defire  it)  that  no  Ufe  may  be  made 
of  the  Hiftory  of  ENTHUSIASTS,  with  Relation  to 
the  prefent  Work,  but  to  the  Diilionour  of  the 
Bible,  and  fo  as  to  place  the  former  in  the  ROOM 
of  tiie  latter. 

(f  4.  I  would  propofe  it  to  be  confidered,  whe- 
*<  ther  or  no,  fome,  INSTEAD  of  making  the  Scrip" 
"  tares  their  only  Rule  to  judge  of  this  Work, 
"  don't:  make  their  own  Experience  the  Rule  to 
"  reject  fuch  and  fuch  Things  as  are  now  pro- 
"  feiTed  and  experienced,  becaufe  they  never 
"'felt  them  tbemfelves."  As  this  is  a  Matter  pro- 
pofed  to  be  confidered,  I  have  accordingly  taken 
it  into  Confideration,  and  thereupon  think,  there 
is  a  very  great  Difference  between  making  Ufe 
uf  Experience  with  the  Scripture,  and  in  Subfervi- 
ency  to  it,  and  the  fetting  it-  up  as  a  Rule  INSTEAD 
of  the  Scripture.  The  former,  this  Gentleman,  I 
)  am  fatisfied,  will  not  object  againft  :  And  for 
the  latter,  'tis  fo  great  a  1  auk>  that  none  ought 

tt 


PART    III.       fpoken  againfl  Dif orders.        3  89 

to  be  publickly  charged  with  it,  unlefs  upon  bet 
ter  Evidence  than  that  of  meer  Insinuation  by 
Way  of  Query.  I  will  not  fay  but  fome,  among 
thofe,  who  are  Enemies  to  the  prefent  Diforders, 
may  have  made  an  undue  Ufe  of  Experience  ; 
though  I  know  not  of  one  who  ever  fet  it  up  as 
a  Rule  INSTEAD  of  the  Bible,  This  is  not  the 
Fault  of  the  Perfons,  this  Gentleman  is  here  fpeak- 
ing  of,  but  of  the  Friends  to  that  which  is  called, 
without  Difcrimination,  the  Work  of  GOD  going 
on  in  the  Land.  I  don't  query,  whether,  among 
thefe,  there  are  not  fome,  who  make  this  Ufe  of 
their  Experience,  but  affirm  that  there  are  ;  part 
ly  upon  my  own  perfonal  Converfation  with 
them,  and  partly  by  Information  from  others  of 
known  Judgment  and  Integrity.  'Tis  with  them 
a  fufficient  Reafon  to  think,  and  fpeak  of  a  Man 
as  carnal  and  unconverted^  if  he  han't  felt  the  like 
Extraordinaries  they  have  experienced  :  Nor  has 
it  been  an  uncommon  Thing  for  them,  to  pro 
nounce  others  pharifaical  and  unregenerate,  upon 
this  Ground  folely  ;  as  though  what  they  had 
experienced  was  a  fure  Teft  to  try  the  State  of 
their  Neighbour  by.  And  how  this  Gentleman 
came  to  charge  the  known  Fault  of  fome  of  the 
Zealots  of  this  Day,  upon  thofe  who  have  ever 
appeared  againft  it,  I  am  at  a  lofs  to  conceive. 

"  III.  Another  Foundation  Error  of  thofe  that 
"  rejeft  this  Work,  is  their  not  duly  diftinguifb- 
"  ing  the  good  from  the  bad."  1  can't  but  think 
this  Gentleman  fpake  more  from  'a  fpeculative  Con- 
fideration  of  the  Matter,  than  the  Reality  of  Fact, 
when  he  wrote  this.  For  who  are  the  Perfons 
chargeable  with  not  duly  diftinguifloing  in  the  late 
religious  Commotion  ?  Are  they  not  thofe,  who 
have  accuilomed  themfelves  to  fpeak  of  it,  both 
B  b  3  publickly 


390      Thofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    III. 

publickly  and  privately,  as  an  extraordinary  Work 
of  GOD,  in  the  grofs,  and  without  Diftmction  ? 
And  have  they  not  often  been  faulted  for  this  /'«- 
djjcrimnate  Way  of  fpeaking  upon  the  Matter  ? 
Han't  they  t^een  openly  call'd  upon,  yea,  ferioufly 


and  folemnly  argued  with,to  diftinguiih  and  feparate 
between  the  good  and  bad  ?  And  have  they  e- 
ver  done  it  to  this  Day  ?  Do  they  not  rather 
go  on  in  the  fame  general,  indifcriminate  Way  of 
fpeaking  ?  Whereas,  the  Perfons,  this  Gentleman 
blames,  have  plainly  faid,  at  left  fome  of  them, 
over  and  over  again,  what  the  bad  Things  of  the 
prefent  Day  are,  which  they  condemn  :  And 
this  indeed  is  that  for  which  they  have  been  fo 
bafely  treated.  They  are  certainly  in  an  ill  Cafe  ; 
for  they  are  mifus'd  for  pointing  out  the  bad 
Things  prevailing  in  thefe  Times,  and  at  the  fame 
Time  blamd  for  not  doing  that,  for  the  doing  of 
which  all  Manner  of  Evil  has  been  fpoken  a- 
gainft  them,  to  the  great  Detriment  both  of  their 
Reputation,  and  Ufefulnefs  in  the  World.  To 
proceed, 

Another  Thing  charg'd  upon  thofe,  who  have 
fpoken  again  ft  the  Disorders  of  the  Times  is,  f 
*c  That  they  have  watched  for  the  halting  of  the 
"  Zealous,  and  catch'd  at  any  Thing  that  has 
"  been  wrong,  and  have  greatly  infifted  on  it, 
"  made  the  moft  of  it,  and  magnified  it  ;  efpe- 
"  daily,  that  they  have  watched  for  Errors  in 
"  zealous  Preachers,  that  are  much  in  reproving 
"  and  condemning  theWickednefs  of  the  Times." 
I  never  imagined,  but,  among  thofe  who  have 
mamfefted  a  Diflike  to  the  prefent  Commotions^ 


t  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  late  Book,  P.  iSp. 

there 


PART     III.        fpoken  again/I  Diforders.         391 

there  might  be  fome  of  a  prophane  Chara&er  ; 
and  how  far  the  Temper  and  Conduct  of  this 
Kind  of  Perfons  may  be  pointed  out  in  thefe 
Words,  I  difpute  not  :  But  the  Charge  is  very 
unfair  as  laid  againil  thofe,  in  general,  who  are 
for  keeping  Things  from  running  into  Confu- 
fion  ;  and  the  more  fo,  as  the  juft  Occafi- 
ons  of  Offence  have,  of  late  been  fo  frequenc 
and  numerous.  This  Gentleman  mufl  be  flrange- 
ly  unacquainted  with  the  Scate  of  Affairs  in  the 
Land,  if  he  does  not  know,  that  the  late  Zealots, 
and  the  Preachers  among  them  too,  have,  in  ma 
ny  Inflances,  behav'd  after  fuch  a  Manner,  that 
others  could  not  help  obferving  the  Extravagan 
cies  they  fell  into  ;  and  inftead  of  cc. catching 
at  any  Thing  wrong,"  they  were  rather  moved 
with  Pity  and  Grief,  to  behold  the  Mifchief  that 
was  doing  to  the  Caufe  of  Religion  :  And  fo* 
far  were  they  from  "  magnifying  real  Errors,  " 
that,  I  fcruple  not  to  fay,  they  have  never  yet 
fet  them  in  their  full  Light  ;  nay,  as  to  foine 
of  the  Diforders  of  the  Times,  I  don't  think  it 
is  in  the  Power  of  the  word  Oppofer  of  them  all 
to  defcribe  them  to  the  Life.  This  Gentleman 
may  further  fugged,  "  that  Diforders  have  been 
too  muoh  infifted  on  ;'  but  others,  as  much 
concern'd  for  the  Honour  of  GOD,  and  the  In- 
tereft  of  Chriftianity,  are  of  Opinion,  they  have 
not  been  infifted  on  enough  :  To  be  fure,  they 
were  not  at-firft;  if  they  had,  much  of  the  prefeiu 
Confufions  would,  I  believe,  have  been  prevented. 
I  (hall  add,  there  are  as  awful  Texts  of  Scripture, 
as  well  worthy  a  ferious  Confideration  as  that,  this 
Gentleman  has  here  particularly  mentioned  : 
Such  as  that,  Prov.  17.  15.  He  that  jiiftifieth  the 
and  he  that  condemneth  the  Jitft-,  even  they 

bttb 


392      Thofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    HL 

loth  are  Abomination  to  the  LORD.  And  that,  in 
the  24th  Chapter,  the  24th  and  25th  Verfes. 
He  that  faith  unto  the  Wicked,  thou  art  righteous  ; 
him  /hall  the  People  curfe,  Nations  fhall  abhor  him  : 
But  to  them  that  rebuke  him  fhall  be  Delight)  and  a 
good  Bleffing  fhall  come  upon  them. 

Another  Thing  injurioufly  reflefted  upon  thofe 
who  have  fpoken  againft  the  Diforders  of  the 
Times  is,  "  That  they  are  OPPOSERS  of  the  WORK 
of  GOD  :"  Nor  have  they  been  thus  charged 
by  the  Vulgar  and  Illiterate  only,  which'  is  no 
Wonder  ;  but  by  thofe  who  would  take  it  ill, 
not  to  be  accounted  Men  of  another  Chara&er. 
And  to  this,  as  much  as  any  one  Thing,  may  be 
owing,  the  Alienations,  Contentions  and  Separati 
ons,  that  are  now  common  in  the  Land. 

But  why  muft  they  be  fpoken  of,  in  the  harfli 
Language,  of  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD  ?  Is 
this  their  real  Character  ?  'Tis  true,  they  don't 
think  the  Work  of  the  Spirit  lies  in  Impujfes,  Vi- 
fions  and  Revelations  ;  they  don't  think,  that 
Streamings,  and  Shriekings,  and  Swoooings,  are  fure 
Marks  of  a  genuine  Conviclion  of  Sin  ;  they 
don't  think,  that  extatic  Raptures  are  an  infallible 
Sign  of  faving  Faith  :  Nor  have  they  any  great 
Opinion  of  the  Exhortations  of  weak;  illiterate 
Men,  Women,  or  Lads,  and  other  Extraordina- 
ries,  which  are  common  at  this  Day.  And  fhall 
they,  upon  thefe  Accounts,  be  called  Oppofers  of 
the  Work  of  GOD  ?  Will  any,  from  hence,  up 
on  a  mature  Confideration  of  the  Matter,  fix  up 
on  them  this  Character,  and  in  fuch  a  Senfe  too, 
as  that  they  mufl  be  Enemies  to  the  REDEEMER, 
and  his  Kingdom  ?  Are  not  many  of  thofe,  call-- 
ed  Oppofers,  Men  of  the  befl  Character  in  the 

Country, 


PART    III.       fpoken  againjl  Diforders.        393 

Country,  fo  far  as  can  be  judged  ?  Han't  they 
always  been  fo  accounted,  'till  thefe  Times  ? 
And  is  there  not  the  fame  Reafon  to  think  well 
of  them  now  as  formerly,  fave  only  that  they 
have  teftified  againfl  the  bad  Things  of  the  pre- 
fent  Day  ? 

The  Gentlemen,  who  are  mod  free  in  fpeaking 
of  others  as  Oppofers  of  GOD's  Work,  feem  to 
look  upon  themfelves  as  the  only  Friends  the 
LORD  JESUS  CHRIST  has  in  the  Land  :  But  will 
their  own  Conceit  of  themfelves  make  it  true, 
that  they  really  are  fo  ?  And  if  thofe,  who 
think  they  are  miftaken  in  the  Judgment  they 
form  of  themfelves,  fliould  follow  their  Example, 
and  go  into  their  extravagant  Way  of  fpeaking, 
what  would  be  their  Opinion  of  it  ?  How  would 
they  like  to  be  call'd  Oppofers  of  CHRIST,  Ene 
mies  of  GOD  and  Religion  ?  Would  they  not 
efteem  themfelves  fliamefully  reviled  ?  And  yet, 
I  believe,  it  will  not  be  pretended,  but  fome  of 
them  have  fo  a6led,  as  to  bring  as  great  Reproach 
on  CHRIST,  and  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  and  the  Ways  of 
true  Religion,  as  many  of  the  worft  Oppofers  (as 
they  are  term'd)  put  together. 

It  has  been  remarked,  thofe,  who  call  others 
Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD,  don't  care  to  explain 
themfelves  upon  the  Matter  :  Nor  has  any  one 
of  them  yet  done  it  that  I  know  of,  unlefs  the 
Gentleman,  I  have  fo  often  refer'd  to,  may  be 
fuppofed  to  have  attempted  fomething  of  this  Na 
ture.  He  thinks  it  not  enough  for  Perfons  to 
fay,  f  "  they  believe  there  is  a  good  Work  going 


t  Mr.  EDWARDS'S  Tho'ts  on  the  late  Revival  of  Reli 
gion,  P.  143,  144. 


"  on 


394      Tbofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    III. 

"  on  in  the  Country  ;  and  that  they  fometimes 
"  blefs  GOD,  in  their  publick  Prayers,  in  general 
"  1  erms,  for  any  Awakenings,  or  Revivals  of 
"  Religion,  there  have  lately  been  in  any  Parts  of 
'•  the  Land."  Notwithftanding  this,  "  Some  (as 
"  he  goes  on)  are  fo  far  from  acknowledging, 
"  and  rejoicing  in  the  infinite  Mercy  of  GOO,  in 
"  caufing  fo  happy  a  Change  in  the  Land,  that 
"  they  look  upon  the  religious  State  of  the  Coun- 
"  try,  take  it  in  the  whole  of  it,  much  more  for- 
"  rowful  than  it  was  ten  Years  ago."  And,  u  if 
"  it  be  manifeftly  thus  with  us,  (  he  adds )  and 
"  our  Talk  and  Behaviour  with  Refpecl  to  this 
ff  Work  be  fuch  as  has  (though  but)  an  indirecl 
"  Tendency,  to  beget  ill  Thoughts  and  Sufpici- 
(f  ons  in  others  concerning  it,  we  are  Oppofers  of 
"  the  Work  of  GOD."  What  is  the  plain  Engliih 
of  all  this,  but  that  thofe  who  don't  fpeak  upon 
the  Times  jufl  as  this  Gentleman  would  have 
them,  are  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD.  'Tis 
true  indeed,  it  may,  in  a  Senfe,  be  faid  even  of 
all  who  either  do,  or  fay,  any  Thing  that  has  on 
ly  a  remote  Tendency  to  diflerve  the  Caufe  of 
GOD,  that  they  are  Oppofers  of  GOD's  Work  : 
And  juft  the  fame  Thing  may,  with  as  much 
Trath,  be  affirm'd  of  thofe,  who  neglecl  what 
is  proper  for  them  to  do,  to  remove  away  that 
which  hinders  the  flourifhing  of  Religion.  And 
fliould  thofe,  upon  this,  whofe  Talk  and  Behavi 
our,  with  Refpecl  to  the  Errors  and  Dif orders  in 
the  Land,  have  been  fuch  as  tend  (  though  but) 
indireclly  to  beget  favourable  Thoughts,  in  Peo 
ple,  of  the  bad  Things  among  us,  or  not  fo 
ill  Thoughts  of  them  as  they  really  deferve  :  I 
fay,  fliould  fuch  as  thefe  be  reprefented  to  the 
World  as  Oppofers  of  GOD's  Work  ;  and  this, 
though  "  they  fometimes  fpeak  againft  Diforders 
<  in 


PART    III.        fpoken  agalnft  Dif orders.        395 

in  their  -public  Prayers,  in  general  Terms,"  would 
it  not  be  highly  relented  ?  Efpecially,  if  it  was 
before  known,  that  the  applying  this  Style  of  Op- 
pofers  to  them,  would  be  underflood  by  Multi 
tudes,  as  giving  them  no  better  a  Name  than 
that  of  the  Enemies  of  GOD  and  CHRIST,  and  the 
Caufe  of  Truth  and  Religion  in  the  World.  And 
if  fuch  a  Reprefentation  would  be  unjuft  on  one 
Side,  'tis  equally  fo  on  the  other. 

I  am  fenfible,  this  Gentleman  profeiTes  more 
Charity  for  Oppofers  than  many  who  give  them 
this  Name.  He  fpeaks  of  it  as  a  difficult 
Thing,*  "  to  determine  how  far,  and  how-  long, 
"  fome  Perfons  of  good  Experience  in  their 
f<  Souls,"  may  be  Oppofers  of  this  Work  ;  and 
owns,  "  that  he  has  feen  that  which  abundant- 
"  ly  convinces  him,  that  the  Bufinefs  is  too  high 
<c  for  him,  and  that  he  can  leave  it  wholly  in  his 
"  Hands,  who  is  infinitely  fit  for  it,  without  med- 
"  ling  at  all  with  it  himfelf."  This  is  well  faid  ; 
and  who  that  reads  it  would  expect  to  find  this 
Gentleman  declaring,  in  this  very  Page,  agalnft 
any  Man's  obliging  him  to  fet  under  the  Minlftry  of 
one  he  there  marks  out  for  an  Oppofer  ?  Who  would 
think  to  fee  him  ranking  Oppofers  with  Deifts  ? 
As  he  does,  when  he  propoles  it  to  Coniiderati- 
on,  whether,!  u  any  good  Medium  can  be  found, 
where  a  Man  could  reft  with  any  Stability,  be 
tween  owning  this  Work,  and  being  a  Delft!  Who 
could  fuppofe,  that  he  fhould,  in  all  Parts  of  his 
Book,  fpeak  of  Oppofers  in  the  moft  fever e  and 
bitter  Language  ?  —  If  a  Colle6lion  was  to  be 
made  of  all  the  hard  Speeches  he  has  freely  made 


P.  300.     f'P-337* 

Ufe 


Thofe  ill-treated,  wJo  have      PART  "III. 

Ufe   of,  few,  perhaps,   would  appear  to  have 
carried  their  Uncharitablenefs  to  a  greater  Height. 

And  what  is  the  true  Reafon  of  this  Out-cry 
againft  Perfons,  as  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD  ? 
Is  is  not  this,  and  only  this,  that  they  don't  think 
of  the  Work  going  on  in  the  Land,  at  this  Day, 
juft  as  fome  others  do  ?  And  (hall  they,  on  this 
Account,  be  fligmatifed  as  Oppofers  of  GODV 
Work  ?  Is  there  no  Difference  between  this 
Work,  as  the  Phrafe  is  vulgarly  and  indefinitely 
ufed,  and  a  Work  of  COD  in  the  Senfe  of  the 
Gofpel  ?  May  not  Perfons  entertain  a  juft  Idea 
of  Faith)  Converfion,  the  New-Creature^  or  what 
ever  elfe  the  Scripture  means  by  a  Work  of  GOD, 
and  yet  differ  from  others  in  their  Sentiments  a- 
bout  the  Workthat  has,  of  late,  bee:i  fo  much  the 
Subjeft  of  Converfation  ?  Even  the  Friends  to 
this  Work  vary  in  their  Thoughts  about  it.  Some 
think  it  has  a  greater  Mixture  of  Error  and  Dif- 
order  ;  others  a  lefs  :  Some  think  the  Diforders 
accompanying  it,  are  of  a  very  pernicious  Ten 
dency  ;  others  look  upon  them  as  rather  par 
taking  of  the  Nature  of  Frailties  and  Infirmities  : 
Some  have  a  higher  Opinion  of  the  good  that 
has  been  done ;  others  a  lower.  Perhap?,  there 
are  no  two  Friends  to  this  Work,  but  they  differ 
in  their  Thoughts  about  it  :  Nay,  have  not  the 
fame  Perfons  conceived  a  very  different  Opinion 
of  it,  at  different  Times  ?  Yea,  han't  they  chang 
ed  their  Sentiments  in  Refpeft-  of  thofe  very 
Things,  for  oppofmg  of  which  they  once  condemn 
ed  others  as  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOD  ?- — 
And  if  thofe,  who  are  called  Friends  to  this  Work, 
inay  differ  from  one  another,  and  from  their  own 
felves  too  ,•  why  may  not  the  fame  Liberty  be 

given 


PART    III.       fpoken  agamfl  IXf orders.         39? 

given  to  others,  without  pointing  them  out  by  * 
Name  of  Odium  and  Difgrace  ? 

In  a  Word,. If  any  mufl  be  called  Oppofers  of 
GOD's  WQr^  'they  ought  to  be  particularly  told, 
why  they  are  fpoken  of  in  this  Style  :  And  then 
it  will  be  feen,  whether  it  be,  becaufe  they  real 
ly  oppofe  any  Thing  that  the  Bible  makes  the 
Work  of  GOD  to  confift  in,  or  only  becaufe  they 
are  faithful  to  teflify  agamfl  fuch  Errors  and  Dif- 
wders,  as  are  a  Dishonour  to  true  Religion,  and 
tend  to  hinder  its  Progrefs  in  the  Land.  This  has 
often  been  defired  ;  and  'tis  a  Requeft,  I  can't 
but  think,  thofe  Gentlemen  are  oblig'd,  in  all 
Reafon  and  Confcience,  to  give  a  plain,  and  dif- 
tin6t  Anfwer  to,  who  have  publickly  advis'd  Peo 
ple  to  feparate  from  Oppofers  ;  as  they  would  not 
incur  the  Guilt  of  encouraging  Strife  and  Schifm, 
by  the  Ufe  of  certain  loofe,  general  and  indefinite 
Words,  which  People  may  put  a  Meaning  to,  juft 
as  they  are  led  by  their  Imaginations. 

Another  Thing  mentioned  to  the  Difadvantage 
of  thofe,  who  han't  fo  good  a  Thought  of  the 
Times  as  fome  of  their  Brethren  is,*  "  That  they 
are  Men  of  ARMINIAN,  PELAGIAN  and  DEISTICAL 
Principles."  It  is  conceded  indeed,  "  that  there 
are  fome  weaker  Brethren,  both  of  Minifters  and 
People,  who  are  led  in  to  oppofe  this  Work,  who 
are  yet  no  Arminians  :"  But  for  the  u  moft 
principal  and  inveterate  Oppofers,  they  are  Men  of 
ARMINIAN  and  PELAGIAN  Principles  ;  and  thofe 
others  are  only  Deputy,  or  fecond-band  Oppofers." 


Vid.  Mr.  McGREGORY's  Sermon  on  the  Trial  of 
the  Spirits. 

The 


Tbofe  ill-treated,  who  have      PART    IIL 

The  Idea  here  conveyed  to  the  World  is  evi 
dently  this,  that  the  Gentlemen  of  mod  Weight 
and  Significancy,  in  the  Oppofition  to  the  Difor- 
ders  in  the  Land,  are  known  to  be  of  bad  Prin 
ciples.  And  is  this  the  real  Truth  of  the  Cafe  ? 
So  far  from  it,  that  a  more  palpable  Mi/lake  could 
not  have  been  publiih'd  to  the  World  ;  and  the 
Man  who  publifh'd  it,  muft  be  either  grofly  igno 
rant  of  the  Characters  of  thofe  he  undertook  to 
write  againfl,  not  knowing  whereof  he  affirmed  ; 
or  otherwife,  muft  be  look'd  upon  as  afting  a 
very  difhoneft  Part.  For  'tis  notorious  to  all,  in 
any  tolerable  Meafure,  acquainted  with  Men,  or 
Things,  at  this  Day,  that  the  principal  Oppofers  are 
among,  thofe  of  an  eftablifli'd  Reputation  for  their 
Orthodoxy.  CALVINISTS  in  Principle,  now  are, 
and  always  have  been  from  the  Beginning,  the 
principal  and  mofl  inveterate  Enemies  to  our  grow 
ing  Confuiions  :  Not  fuch  CALVINISTS  as  are 
weak,  and  fit  only  to  be  made  Tools  of  by  Men 
of  other  Principles  ;  but  Men  of  as  good  Parts 
and  Learning  as  any  we  have  in  the  Land,  and 
univerfally  acknowledged  to  be  fo.  I  could  wifh 
it  were  here  proper  to  mention  Names  :  No 
thing  would  fo  effectually  tend  to  wipe  off  this 
Reproach,  which  has  been  publickly  reflected  up 
on,  fome  of  the  great  eft  Men,  and  beft  Friends  to 
Religion,  we  have  in  the  Country. 

There  are,  no  doubt,  among  thofe  who  fpeak 
againft  Diforders,  fome  of  bad  Principles  ;'  yea,  of 
no  Principles  at  all  :  [The Number  ofthefe  latter^ 
inflead  of  being  dimimmed,  has,  perhaps,  of  late, 
been  greatly  increafed  ]  But  to  give  it  as  the  Cha 
racter  of  the  principal  Gentlemen,  who  have  en 
deavoured  to  prevent  Confufion  in  the  Church  of 
GOD,  that  they  are  ARMINIANS  and  PELAGIANS, 

becauie 


PART    HI.       ffokcn  agamfl  Dlforden.         39? 

becaufe  this  may  be  true  of  fome,  who  an't  much 
concerned  about  Religion,  nor  pretend  that  they 
are,  is  very  Abufive  :  'Tis  efpecially  fo,  to  fug 
ged  fuch  a  Thing  of  the  Ministers  ;  and  the  ra 
ther,  becaufe  they  are  generally  in  a  quite  differ 
ent  Way  of  thinking.  As  for  PELAGIANJSM,  'tis  a 
bafe  Slander,  to  publim  it  to  the  World,  as  if  any 
Mimfters  in  the  Country  entertain'd  a  favouraole 
Opinion  of  it:  Nor  can  I  fuppofe,  there  are  fo  ma 
ny,  as  fome  fugget,  who  think  with  AKMINIUS.  3ut 
if  they  were  more  numerous,  \ea,  if  they  w^re 
generally  ARMIN  i  A  i?,(which  is  far  from  theTru  ) 
how  would  tuis  juitify  the  Dif orders  thev  corn- 
plain  of  ?  Theie  may  be  as  bad  in  their  Nature 
and  Tendency,  and  as  of  great  Extent,  as  if  they 
were  flrong  CALVINISIS.  And  to  fpeak  freely,  the 
railing  a  popular  Clamour  againft  Minifters,  by 
giving  them  a  Name  of  Odium,  carries  with  it  no 
reafonable  Ground  of  Convi6Hon  :  Nor  can  it 
t>e  of  any  real  Service.  It  may  obftruft  their 
Ufefulnefs  ;  but  has  no  Tendency  to  clear  up 
the  Truth  :  It  may  excite  their  Palfions,  and 
provoke  to  Wrath,  and  feldom  fails  of  doing  fo, 
to  the  great  Hurt  of  Religion  ;  but  it  can 
never  inftru6l  their  Underftandings,  or  alter  their 

Sentiments. It  would  difcover  a  much  better 

Spirit,  if  they  have  oppos'd  any  Thing  that  is 
really  good,  to  ihow  plainly,  and  difhinclly, 
wherein  they  have  done  fo,  from  the  Bible 9  that 
facred  and  only  Teft,  in  all  Matters  pertaining 
to  Confcience  and  Salvation. — This  would  be  to 
fpeak  to  the  Purpofe,  and  to  argue  like  Men  and 
Chriilians. — 

In  fine,  The  Difcpuragers  of  the  Things  amifs, 
at  this  Day,  have  been  reprefented,  "  as  Men 
deftitute  of  all  feripus  Senfe  of  Religion,  as  loofe 

in 


400      Thofe  ill-treated,  w/;0  havf      PART    III. 

in  their  Lives,  and  no  real  Friends  to  the  Power 
of  Godlinefs."    And  if  this  fliould  be  allowed  to 
be  the  Truth  as  tofome,  why  muft  others  be  tho't 
the  worfe  of  upon  their  Account  ?    Have  >none, 
among  the  Friends  to  the  Extraordlnaries  of  the 
prefent  Day,  made  it  evident  to  the  World,  that 
they  were  the  bafeft  of  Hypocrites  ?  Have  none 
of  them  been  guilty  of  Wickednefs,  aggravated 
to  a  far  greater  Height,  than  can  be  proved  up 
on  the  worft  Oppofer  in  the  Land  ?  And  would  it 
be  fair,  becaufe  of  the  Hypocrify  and  Vilenefs  of 
fome,  to  fpeak,  in  general,  of  the  Reft,  as  meer 
Pretenders  to  Religion  ?    Would  not  this  be  com 
plained  of  as  horribly  unjuft?  And  if 'tis  foon  one 
Side,  muft  it  not  be  fo  on  the  other  ? 

I  know,  the  Injlruments  and  Subjects  of  the 
prefent  Work,  do,  many  of  them,  make  high  Pre 
tences  to  Sanftity  above  other  Men ;  while  thofe, 
who  have  teftified  againft  the  Diforders  prevail 
ing  in  the  Land,  have  not,  in  like  Ways,  com 
mended  themfelves.  They  have  not  indeed  tho't 
it  decent  to  proclaim  their  ownGoodnefs,  fo  as  to 
defpife  others,  and  it  may  be,  their  Betters  ?  But 
they  may  be  good  Men  notwithftanding^  And, 
perhaps,  if  a  ftrift  Scrutiny  was  to  be  made,  as 
eminent  Chriftians,  both  Miniflers  and  People, 
would  be  found  among  thefe,  as  are  to  be  met 
with  any  where  in  NEW-ENGLAND.  Compaiifons 
(as  the  Vulgar  phrafe  it)  are  odious  ;  otherwife 
the  Men  might  be  called  for,  who  Ihould  equal 
many  who  are  fpoken  of  as  Oppofers.  We  know 
indeed  the  Perfons  that  would  be  pitch'd  upon  : 
And  what  are  their  Chara&ers,  in  Compare  with 
a  very  confiderable  Number  of  thofe  who  have  been 
evil-fpoken  of,  in  thefe  Times  ?  Have  the  Men, 
through  whofe  Means,  a  Clamour  has  been  rais'd 

againfl 


PART    III.        fpoken  againft  Difordm.         401 

againft  them,  ever  given  the  World,  one  tenth 
Part  of  the  Evidence,  either  of  their  Goodnejs  as 
ChriftianSj  or  Diligence  and  Fidelity  as  Pajlors  to  the 
particular  Flocks  committed  to  their  Charge  ?  Are 
not  the  Gentlemen,  who  have  been  moll  admir 
ed,  generally  young  in  Years,  and  Chriftian  Expe 
rience,  as  well  as  of  fmall  Attainments  in  Learn 
ing  ?  And  is  it  poifible,  they  could  have  given 
fuch  Proof  of  a  good  Character  as  thofe,  who,  for  a 
Courfe  of  Years,  have  faithfully  preach'd  the  Truth 
as  it  is  in  JESUS,  and  fet  an  Example  to  their  People 
of  all  the  Virtues  and  Graces  of  the  Chriftian 
Life  ?  And  may  not  this  be  juftly  faid  of  many 
who  have  been  injurioufly  refiefted  on,  for  not 
falling  in  with  the  Times  ?  The  plain  Truth  is, 
as  valuable  Men,  in  all  Refpefts,  as  any  we  have 
in  the  Country,  are  in  the  Oppofition  to  the  bad 
Things  prevailing  in  it  ;  and  the  ranking  them 
with  Perfons  of  loofe  Lives,  and  no  Religion,  is 
bafely  to  reproach  them. 

Other  Inftances,  wherein  Blame  has  been  UIK 
juftly  thrown  upon  the  faithful  Witnefles  againft 
the  Errors  and  Diforders  of  the  Day,  might  have 
been  mentioned  ;  but  as  they  are  of  finaller  Mo 
ment,  I  muft  leave  them,  to  make  room  for  what 
yet  remains  to  come  under  Consideration, 


C  c  PART 


402  Things  to   le  PART    IV. 


PART   IV. 

Shewing  what  Things  ought  to 
be  cor refleijfj  or  avoided,  in 
teftifying  againft  thelrregu/a- 
rities  of  the  prefent  Day. 


perhaps,   of  all  Characters,  have 
found  Fault  with  the  Diforders  prevailing 

in  the  Country,  at  this  Day  :     And  a- 

rnong  fuch  various  Sorts  of  Perfons,  it  may  not 
be  thought  flrange,  if  there  are  thofe  who  have 
condufted  themfelves  in  a  Manner  liable  to  Ex 
ception.  Wherein  any  have  been  faulty,  'tis  rea- 
fonable  they  ihould  fubmit  to  Correftion,  and  take 
Care  to  avoid  the  like  Miftakes  for  the  Time  to 
come. 

Some,  it  may  "be,  have  been  too  free  with  their 
Complaints  againft  the  Times,  who  have  had  lit 
tle  Opportunity  to  know  the  real  State  of  Reli 
gion  in  the  Land,  and  not  a  fufficient  Capacity  to 
form  an  adequate  Idea  of  it. — This,  it  muft  be 
own'd,  is  a  Fault,  and  ought  to  be  corre&ed.  - — 
3Tis  a  Diflervice  to  the  Caufe  of  Truth  and  Vir- 
tue,  for  Perfbns  of  weak  Minds,  and  fmall  Ac 
quaintance 


PART    IV.         correfted,  or  avoided.         403 

quaintance  with  Matters  in  Agitation,  to  fpeak  of 
them  with  AfTurance  and  Confidence,  as  though 
all  Knowledge  would  die  with  them.  And  this 
may  be  worthy  the  Confideration  of  thofe,  who 
would  be  thought  the  beft  Friends  to  the  Work  of 
GOD,  as  well  as  others  ;  for  I  can't  fuppofe  it 
will  be  denied,  that  thofe  among  them,  whofe 
Capacities  and  Advantages  to  know  the  Truth, 
have  been  fmalleft,  have  yet  been  confident  and 
out-ragious  in  their  Speech,  as  well  <as  Behaviour : 
Whereby,  inilead  of  ferving  any  good  End,  they 
have  rather  excited  the  Pity,  and  expos'd  them* 
felves  to  the  Contempt  of  others. 

Some,  it  may  be,  have  expreft  themfelves  with 
too  much  Warmth,  and  in  Language  favouring 
rather  of  Anger  and  Wrath,  than  that  Meeknefs 
of  Wifdom,  which  is  the  Glory  of  Chriftians,  as 
difcovering  in  them  a  near  Refemblance  to  the 
lovely  JESUS. — Wherever  there  has  been  fuch  a 
Spirit  of  Bitternefs^  appearing  in  unkind  harfh 
Words,  it  ought  to  be  corrected,  and,  for  the 
Time  to  come,  avoided.  —  A  foft  Answer  turnetb 
away  Wrath,  but  grievous  Words  Jlir  up  Anger. 

Some,  it  may  be,  have  fpoken  of  the  Extrava 
gancies  they  have  feen  others  running  into,  with 
an  Air  of  Levity  :  Inftead  of  being  inwardly 
concerned  for  the  Difhonour  reflected  on  GOD, 
and  the  Hurt  done  to  Religion,  they  have  rather 
made  merry  with  the  unadvised  Conduct  of  the 
Zealots  of  the  prefent  Day  ;  taking  Notice  of 
it  only  for  their  Diverlion. —  Wherein  this  has 
been  the  Manner  of  any,  they  will  not,  in  calm 
Tho'ts,  go  about  to  juftify  themfelves.---  'Xis  cer- 
tainly  a  Fault  they  are  chargeable  wkh;  and  it  may 
diflerve  thelntereft  of  CHRIST,  if  it  be  not  amended, 
C  c  2  '-Some 


404  Things  to  be  PART  IV. 

Some,  it  may  be,  have  been  fevere  in  cenfur- 
ing  the  Miftakes  of  others,  who  order  their  own 
Converfation,  rather  by  flefhly  Wifdom  than 
the  Grace  of  GOD  ;  who  live  according  to 
the  Courfe  of  this  World,  rather  than  the  Di 
vine  Law  :  .And  though  they  cry  out  of  Ir 
regularities,  they  have  no  View  herein  to  the 
Honour  of  the  REDEEMER,  and  the  flourifliing  of 
his  Kingdom.  Such  are  faulty  in  the  main  Tem 
per  of  their  Minds.— They  cannot  more  proper 
ly  be  applied  to,  than  in  our  SAVIOUR'S  Words, 
Why  beholdefl  thou  the  Mote  that  is  in  thy  Brother's 
Eye,  but  confiderefl  not  the  Beam  that  is  in  thine 
own  Eye  ? — Thou  Hypocrite,  firft  cafl  out  the  Beam 
out  of  thine  own  Eye  ;  and  then  [halt  thou  fee  clear 
ly  to  cafl  out  the  Mote  out  of  thy  Brother's  Eye. — 
It  would  be  more  for  the  Intereft  of  Religion,  if 
fiich  were  filent  about  the  Imprudences  and  Fol 
lies  of  their  Neighbours. Their  declaiming  a- 

gainfl  them,  puts  thofe  under  a  Difadvantage, 
who  are  real  Friends  to  the  Caufe  of  Vertue, 
and  would  gladly  do  what  they  could  to  pro 
mote  it. 

Some,  it  may  be,  have  taken  Occaflon,  from 
what  they  have  feen  in  fome  enthufiaflical  Perfons, 
to  fpeak  flightily  of  the  bleiled  SPIRIT,  if  not  to 
decry  his  Office,  and  ridicule  his  Influences  upon 
the  Minds  of  Men  :  Than  which  there  is  fcarce 
-a  greater  Fault  :  Nor  will  any,  who  are  Friends 
to  Revelation,  think  favourably  of  it.  — -  I  could 
heartily  wifh,  nothing  had  appeared,  in  thefe 
Days,  that  might  have  given  a  Handle  to  unwor 
thy  Reflexions  on  the  Divine  SPIRIT.  'Tis  true, 
its  no  juft  Objeftion  againft  the  Operations  of  the 
SPIRIT,  that  fome,  under  the  Power  of  an  over 
heated  Imagination,  have  miflaken  the  Motion  of 

their 


PART    IV.         correfted,  or  avoided.        405 

their  own  Minds,  or  the  Suggeftions  of  Satan, 
for  divine  Impreffions.  But  an  ill  Ufe  may  be 
made  of  fuch  Miftakes  :  And  it  may  be  feared, 
whether  this  han't  been  too  much  the  Cafe,  in 
thefe  Times.  If  any,  from  the  Wildnefs  and  En- 
tbujiafm  they  have  feen,  have  had  Prejudices  ex 
cited  in  them  againfl  the  SPIRIT,  as  the  appointed 
Difpenfer  of  GOD's  Grace ;  or  been  led  to  exprefs 
themfelves  in  an  unbecoming  Manner  of  thofe 
Influences,  by  which  the  Work  of  GOD  is  begun, 
and  carried  on,  in  the  Souls  of  Men,  they  have 
much  to  be  humbled  for,  and  corre6l  :  Nor 
can  they  be  too  much  upon  their  Guard,  for  the 
Time  to  come  ;  for  'tis  only  by  the  Operations 
of  the  Divine  SPIRIT,  that  they  can  be  form'd  to 
a  Meetnefs  for  the  Favour  of  GOD  here,  or  the 
Enjoyment  of  him  hereafter  :  And,  of  all  Men, 
they  will  be  the  mofl:  unlikely  to  be  wrought  up 
on  by  him,  if  they  fuffer  themfelves  to  think  or 
fpeak  contemptuoufly  of  his  Operations,  as  tho* 
they  were  nothing  more  than  Delufion  and  Ima 
gination. 

,  In  fine,  fome,  not  futably  diftinguifhing  between 
Religion  in  its  own  Nature,  and  as  exemplified 
in  the  Condu6l  of  fome  over-zealous  Perfons,  in- 
flead  of  entertaining  an  ill  Thought  only  of:  that 
\vhich  is  ill,  may  have  condemned  Religion  in  the 
whole,  as  a  wild  imaginary  Thing.  An  unhappy 
Miftake  this  /—"Nor  can  it  be  too  foon  correft- 
ed.  It  is  juft  Matter  of  Lamentation,  that  any 
have  fet  Religion  in  fuch  an  ugly  Light  by  their 
extravagant  Behaviour,  as  to  excite  Prejudices  in 
the  Minds  of  others  againfl  it  :  Though  Reli 
gion,  in  itfelf,  is  not  really  the  worfe,  nor  fliould 
it  fuffer  in  the  Opinion  of  any,  becaufe  of  the 
Imprudences  and  Follies  of  thofe>  who  call  them- 

C  c  3  felves 


4cS  Things   to   be  PART  IV. 

felves  it's  very  good  Friends.  This  is  unreafon- 
able.— -It  ought  not  to  be  mentioned  to  the  Dif- 
advantage  of  Religion,  that  fome,  who  have  made 
high  Pretences  to  it,  have  fet  it  forth,  in  their 
Conduct,  as  fomething  wild  and  fanciful.  Is  Re 
ligion  accountable  for  the  Madnefs  of  thofe,  who 
fay  they  have  a  Regard  to  it  ?  Is  it  fit,  any 
fhould  fpeak  of  it  as  a  phrenfical  Bufinefs,  becaufe 
Men  of  'an  enthujiaftical  Turn  have  given,  in  their 
Lives,  fuch  an  Idea  of  it  ?  In  judging  of  the 
Truth,  or  Sobriety  of  Religion,  the  Queftion 
ought  not  to  be,  what  is  it  as  exemplified  by  its 
ProfefTors  ?  But  what  is  it  as  contained  in  the 
Revelation  of  GOD  ?  If,  as  'tis  here  exhibited, 
it  approves  itfelf  to  the  Underftanding  and  Con- 
icience,  appears  worthy  of  GOD,  and  in  the  beft 
Manner  calculated  to  promote  the  Good  of  Man 
kind,  it  ought  to  be  received,  and  fubmitted  to^ 
as  the  great  Rule  of  Faith  and  Praftice  ;  and 
this,  notwithflanding  its  forbidding  Afpeft,  from 
the  Copy  of  it,  by  Men  of  heated  Fancies.-—- 
We  ought  to  be  upon  our  Guard,  that  we  don't 
take  up  Prejudices  againfl  Religion  ;  efpecially 
at  a  Time,  when  inch  Things  pafs  for  high 
Flights  in  it,  which  rather  argue  fome  Degree  of 
Disturbance  in ,  the  Imagination  :  And  our  Cau 
tion  mould  be  the  greater,  becaufe  of  the  bad  In 
fluence  of  a  wrong  Biafs  on  the  Mind, — It  will 
flrangely  tend  to  blind  our  Eyes,  and  prepare  the 
Way  to  our  treating  Religion  with  Negleft,  or 
Contempt  ;  than  which,  nothing  can  be  more 
dangerous  to  our  Souls,  or  put  their  Salvation  to  a 
greater  Rifque. 

i 

Thefe  are  the  chief  Things  (  fo  far  as  my 
Knowjege  extends)  that  need  Corre6lion,  among 
the  Cpmplainers  of  Irregularities  in  the  Land  : 

Not 


PART    IV.         correfted,  or  avoided.        407 

Not  that  I  would  infmuate  as  if  all  were  faulty 
in  thefe  Articles  ;  or,  indeed  any  confiderable 
Number,  unlefs  among  the  loofe  and  prophane, 
of  which  Sort,  it  muft  be  own'd,  there  are  too 
many  :  And  it  has  unhappily  been  an  Occafion 
of  unkind  Reflections  on  thofe  of  a  very  different 
Character.-— On  both  Sides  of  the  prefent  Con- 
troverfy,  which  is  become  general,  there  ate,  no 
doubt,  bad  Men  as  well  as  good  ;  but  they  ought 
to  be  denominated  one,  or  'tether,  from  their 
known  habitual  Temper  and  Condutt,  and  not  from 
their  being  on  this,  or  the  other  Side  of  the 
Queflion  in  Debate.  This,  is  very  unfair  ;  and 
would  certainly  be  complained  of  as  fuch,  if  thofe, 
who  would  be  thought  Friends  to  the  Work  of 
GOD,  ihould  be  fpoken  of  as  a  Parcel  of  Hypo 
crites,  becaufe  fome  among  them  have  difco- 

vered  this  to  be  their  true  Chara&er. It  were 

to  be  wrfh'd,  that  all  who  call  themfelves  the 
Friends  of  CHRIST  really  \vere  fo,  and  that  all  who 
complain  of  Dif orders  had  upon  their  Minds  a  jufl 
Senfe  of  the  Importance  of  eternal  Things,  This 
would  have  a  good  Afpec~l  on  Religion  ,•  and 
we  might  hope  foon  to  fee  a  new  Face  of  Things 
in  the  Land. 


PART 


40 8       Expedients  to  promote  the        PART.     V. 


PART  Vth.andlaft. 

Directing  more  pofitively  to 
what  may  be  judged  the  beft 
Expedients  to  promote  theln- 
tereft  of  Religion  at  this  Day. 


HIS  is  an  important  Head  of  Difcourfe, 
and  would  have  required  Enlargement, 
but  that  many  Things  are  well  faid  upon 
it  by  Mr.  EDWARDS,  in  his  late  Book  ; 
which,  if  He,  and  I,  and  Others,  would  carefully 
attend  to,  it  might  do  much  towards  putting  an 
End  to  our  prefent  Difficulties. 

He  is  certainly  right  in  faying,  *"  That  a  g/eat 
f(  deal  need  to  be  done  at  confeffing  of  Faults,  on 
"  both  Sides"  ;  though,  perhaps,  none  are  fo 
proper  to  make  a  beginning,  as  fome  among  the 
chief  -Inftrnments  in  the  late  Commotion :  For  they 
are  the  Perfons,  who  have  openly  injur'd  their 
Brethren,  by  exciting  Prejudices  in  the  Minds  of 
People  againffc  them,  to  the  great  Hurt  of  their 
Reputation  and  Ufefulnefs  in  the  World  :  Nor 

*  P.  328. 

can 


PART    V.  Inter  eft  of  Religion.  409 

can  I  fee,  how  they  will  anfwer  it  to  their  own 
Conferences,  or  GOD,  unlefs,  in  this  Way,  they 
repair  the  Damage  they  have  done  their  Chara&er. 
And  wherein  thofe  called  Oppofers  have,  in  like 
Manner,  publickly  done  that  which  is  a  Diihonour 
to  GOD,  or  an  Injury  to  their  Neighbour,  they 
alfo  are  equally  oblig'd  to  make  public  Satisfaction. 
— But  if  Retractations  are  made,  it  may  be  hoped, 
they  will  be  different  from  fome  that  have  been 
publifhed  of  late,  which  feem  rather  calculated  to 
qualify  the  Perfons  who  made  them  to  do  ftill 
more  Mifchief,  than  to  take  the  Shame  to  thefn- 
felves  that  is  their  jufl  Due. 

I  heartily  join  with  him  likewife  in  calling  Peo 
ple  to  f  "  the  Exercife  of  extraordinary  Meeknefs 

"  and  Forbearance"; the  contrary  whereto, 

"  *  is  each  Party's  fligmatifing  one  another  with 
€e  odious  Names,  as  is  done  in  many  Parts  of  NEW- 
*f  ENGLAND  ;  which  tends  greatly  to  widen  and 
<f  propagate  the  Breach.  Such  diftinguifliing 
(e  Names  (as  it  follows)  do,  as  it  were,  divide 'us 
"  into  two  Armies  feparated  and  drawn  up  in 
c<  Battle-array,  ready  to  fight  with  one  another  ; 
<(  which  greatly  hinders  the  Work  of  GOD."  I 
could  wifh  this  Gentleman  had  wrote  more  under 
the  habitual  Influence  of  this  Advice:  He  would 
not  then,  fo  often  in  his  Book,  have  fpoken  of 
thofe,  who  may'nt  think  jufl  as  he  does  upon  the 
Times,  as  Oppofers  of  the  Work  of  GOZ),  and  under 
fome  other  Names  of  known  Difgrace.  And  as 
he  has  here  taken  Liberty  £  <c  to  intreat  thofe 
that  oppofe  this  Work,  to  leave  off  concerning 
themfelves  fo  much  about  others,  and  look  into 
their  own  Souls,  and  fee  that  they  are  the  Subjects 

t  33°-     *  332-    t  337- 

of 


41  o         Expedients  to  promote  the        PART    V. 

of  a  true,  faving  Work  of  the  SPIRIT  of  GOD ;"  I 
would,  in  the  Spirit  of  Love  and  Meeknefs,  return 
back  the  fame  In  treaty  to  thofe,  who  call  themfelves 
the  Friends  of  GOD's  Work^  begging  that  they 
would  look  more  narrowly  into  the  State  of  their 
own  Hearts,  and  not  cenfure  and  condemn  others. 
Nor  will  it  be  thought,  that  this  Advice  is  un- 
feafonable,  fo  long  as  'tis  a  known  Fa6l,  that  un 
charitable  cenforious  Judging  is  a  Fault  that  has 
generally  prevailed,  and  to  a  high  Degree  of 
Guilt,  among  thofe  who  would  be  thought  the 
belt  Wifliers  to  the  Intereft  of  CHRIST,  at  this 
Day. 

"  Prayer  alfo  with  Faflmg  "  is  an  excellent 
Means  to  be  attended  at  fuch  a  Time  as  this  ; 
though  I  fee  not  of  what  peculiar  Advantage  it 
would  be,:f:  "  if  there  could  be  fome  Contrivance 
"  that  there  fliould  be  anAgreement  of  all  the  Peo- 
"  pie  that  are  in  AMERICA,  that  are  well  affe&ed  to 
"  this  Work,  to  keep  a  Day  of  Fading  and  Prayer, 
"  wherein  they  fhouldall  unite  in  humbling  them- 
"  felves  before  GOD,&c."  A  warm  Imagination 
may  conceive  of  great  Things  from  fuch  a  Faft ; 
but  I  know  not  that  it  would  be  more  acceptable 
to  GOD,  or  to  better  Purpofe,  than  one  of  lefs 
Extent. 

Nor  will  it  be  denied,f  ce  That  Care  fliould  be 
*'  taken,  that  our  Colleges  fliould  be  fo  regulated, 
"  that  they  fliould  be  Nurferics  of  Piety,"  as  far 
as  is  poffible  ,•  tho'  fome  take  it  amifs,  that  this 
Gentleman  has  here  faid  that  which  is  capable  of 
being  interpreted  as  an  Inlinuation  of  a  Want  of 
due  Care  in  this  Refpeft  ,*  elpecially  at  a  Time, 

*  3*3-     t  349- 

when 


PART    V.  Inter  eft  of  Religion.  4,1  r 

when  the  Prejudices  of  many,  againft  the  Colleges, 
are  flrong,  and  operate  much  to  their  Difadvan- 
tage.  — -  I  can't  but  think  we  have  Reafon  for 
Thankfulnefs,  that  thefe  Societies  are  under  fo 
good  a  Regulation  ;  having  thofe  at  their  Head, 
who  are  fo  capable  and  well-fpirited  to  ferve  the 
great  Ends  of  their  Conftitution.  I  have  known 
the  general  State  of  the  College  in  this  Govern 
ment,  upwards  of  20  Years  ;  And,  if  it  might 
not  be  thought  afluming  too  much,  I  would  ven 
ture  to  fay,,  that  it  was  never,  in  that  Time,  un 
der  better  Circumflances,  in  Point  of  Religi 
on,  good  Order,  and  Learning,  than  at  this  Day. 
There  are  thofe,  I  am  feniible,,  who  have  faid 
that  which  has  a  Tendency  to  hurt  the  Credit 
of  the  Colleges  ;  but  they  notwithftanding  flill 
flourifli  as  our  chief  Glory  ;  And  I  pray  GOD 
they  may  go  on  to  do  fo,  as  long  as  the  Sun  and 
the  Moon  fliall  endure. 

Another  Thing  I  concur  with  this  Gentleman 
in  mentioning  as  of  very  great  Importance,  at 
this  Day  ;  and  that  is,  People's  f  "  taking  Heed, 
V-  that,  while  they  abound  in  external  Duties  of 
"  Devotion,  fuch  as  praying,  hearing,  finging,  and 
"  attending  religious  Meetings,  there  be  a  pro- 
*'  portionable  Care  to  abound  in  moral  Duties,  fa 
"  as  A6ls  of Righteoufnefs,  Truth,  Meeknefs,  For- 
(f  givenefs  and  Love  towards  our  Neighbour  ; 
«  whi  ch  are  of  much  greater  Importance  in  the 
"  Sight  of  GOD,  than  all  the  Externals  of  his  Wor-  __ 
^  fliip.— They  are  abundantly  more  infifted  on  by 
*'  the  ProphstSy  in  the  old  Teftament,andCHRisT,and 

his  jipoftks  in  the  new.  When  thefe  two  Kinds  of 
*c  Dimes  are  fpoken  of  together,  the  moral  ones  are 

f  367.  and  onwards.  „ 

ever 


412        Expedients  to  promote  the        PART    V. 

6f  ever-more  greatly  preferred.  Often,  when  the 
€t  Times  were  very  corrupt  in  ISRAEL  the  People 
ft  abounded  in  external  Duties,  but  were  at  fuch 
"  Times  always  notorioufly  deficient  in  moral 
"  ones. — Hypocrites  and  felf- righteous  Perfons 
"  do  much  more  commonly  abound  in  the  former 
"  Kind  of  Duties,  than  the  latter  ,-  as  CHRIST  re- 
*'  marks  of  the  Pharifees,  Matth.  23.  14,  15,  and 
"  34.  When  the  Scripture  directs  us  to  fhew  our 
tf  Faith  by  our  Works,  it  is  principally  the  latter  Sort 
"  that  are  intended. — And  we  are  to  be  judged 
"  at  the  laft  Day,  efpecially  by  thefe  latter  Sort 
"  of  Works.-—  Thefe  latter  Sort  of  Duties  put 
"  greater  Honour  upon  GOD,  becaufe  there  is 
"  greater  Self-Denial  in  them.  The  external  A6ts 
"  of  Worfhip,  confiding  in  bodily  Geftures, 
"  Words  and  Sounds,  are  the  cheapeft  Part  of 
"  Religion,  and  lead  contrary  to  our  Lufts  : 
"  The  Difficulty  of  thorow  Religion  don't  lie  in 
"  them.  Let  wicked  Men  enjoy  their  Covete- 
"  oufnefs,  and  their  Pride,  their  Malice,  Envy, 
"  Revenge,  and  their  Senfuality  and  Voluptuouf- 
<f  nefs  in  their  Behaviour  among  Men,  and  they 
"  will  be  willing  to  compound  the  Matter  with 
"  GOD,  and  fubmit  to  'what  Forms  of  Worfhip  you 
"  pleafe,  and  as  many  as  you  pleafe  ;  as  is  mani- 
«  feft  in  the  JEWS  of  old,  in  the  Days  of  the 
<c  PROPHETS,  and  the  PHARISEES  in  CHRIST'S  Time, 
"  and  the  PAPISTS  and  MAHOMETANS  in  this  Day." 

Several  Things,  further  offer'd  to  Confideration 
by  this  Gentleman,  are  well  calculated  to  promote 
the  Intereft  of  Religion,  in  this  Day  of  Diforder: 
But  inflead  of  repeating  thefe,  I  (hall  add  a  few 
Expedients  of  another  Nature,  a  due  Regard  to 
which,  I  cannot  but  think,  would  happily  jend, 
under  GOD,  to  fet  us  free,  in  a  good  Meafure, 

from 


PART    V.  Inter  eft  of  Religion.  4 1 5 

from  our  prefent  Difficulties,  and  greatly  ferve  the 
Caufe  of  CHRIST  and  his  Kingdom. 

The  firft  is,  the  putting  a  Stop  to  Itinerant 
Preaching.  This,.  I  doubt  not,  is  the  true  Caufe  of 
mod  of  the  Diforders,  we  have  feen  in  the  Coun 
try  :  And  'till  this  be  removed,  other  Attempts 
to  bring  us  into  a  better  State,  will  be  likely  to 
prove  ineffeftual.  I  know,  it  will  be  faid,  Good 
has  been  done  by  this  Way  of  Preaching  ;  why- 
then  fhould  it  be  difcouraged  ?  And  don't  the 
fame  Men  who  fay,  Good  has  been  done  by  the 
preaching  of  Itinerants,  allow  that  Good  alfo  has 
been  done  by  the  Exhort  ers,  whether  Male  or  Fe 
male  1  And  yet  they  are  now  made  fenfible,  even 
the  mod  zealous  among  them,  that  Exborters  ought 
to  be  put  down.  And  why  not  Itinerants?  If  they 
liave  been  inflrumental  in  doing  Good,  have  they 
not  alfo  been  a  Means  of  doing  Hurt  ?-—  If  this 
Itinerancy  is  in  it  felf  a  diforderly  Praftice,  (  as  has, 
I  trufl,  been  made  evident  in  thefe  Pages)  it  ought, 
though  fome  Good  ihould  have  followed  upon  it, 
to  be  difcouraged  :  Nor  otherwife  may  it  be  ex- 
pe6ted,  Things  will  be  reduced  to  an  orderly  re 
gular  State  in  the  Land.  And  it  fhould  be  dif 
couraged  univerfally,  if  at  all.  The  doing  it  in 
refpeft  of  fome,  while  others  are  encouraged  in 
the  Praftice,  is  downright  Partiality.  If  the  Thing 

it  fe4f  is  bad,  'tis  fo  in  one  as  well  as  another. 

No  one,  let  his  Chara&er  be  what  it  will,  ought  to 
be  countenanced  in  this  vagrant  Way  of  Preach 
ing,  where  Churches  are  already  formed,  and  have 
Paftors  fixed  in  them.— If  any  Man  thinks  he  may 
do  more  abundant  Service  by  Itinerating,  let  him 
go  where  he  won't  invade  other  Men's  Rights, 
and  promote  Strife  and  Schifm  ;  and  there  will 
then  be  no  Ground  of  Complaint. —  Let  him  go 

among 


414        Expedients  to  promote  the        PART    V. 

among  the  Natives  to  the  Eaft,  or  Weft  ;  or^ 
if  he  don't  chufe  that,  let  =him  go  into  VIR 
GINIA,  or  rather  NORTH-CAROLINA,  where 
(  as  I  have  lately  had  Information  that  may 
certainly  may  be  depended  on)  there  is  fcarce  a 
Bible  to  be  met  with,  in  Multitudes  of  their  Houf- 
es,  or  a  Minifter  for  a  hundred  Miles  together.  I 
can't  indeed  learn,  that  there  are  above  two  or 
three  Minifters  within  the  Confines  of  that  Go 
vernment. 

But  how  fliall  a  Stop  be  put  to  this  Itinerant 
Preaching  ?  To  which,  if  it  might  not  be  thought 
taking  too  much  upon  me/ 1  would  fay,  that,  if 
the  Miniftcrs,  in  their  feveral  Affbciations,  would 
come  inco  an  Agreement  among  themfelves  to  ad- 
mit  no  Itinerant  into  their  Pulpits,  and  propofe 
I  their  Agreement  to  their  refpeftive  Churches  that 
^jthey  might  ftrengthen  them  in  it  ;  I  can't  but 
think,  it  would  have  a  powerful  Tendency  to 
give  Check  to  this  Praftice,  which  has  occailoned 
I  fo  much  Alienation  in  the  Minds  of  Minifters  to 
wards  each  other,  and  of  People  towards  Minifters* 
I  am  fenfible,  all  would  not  be  pleas'd  with  fucli 
an  Agreement ;  but  if  I  am  not  exceedingly  mif- 
taken  in  the  Sentiments  of  by  far  the  greateft  Pare 
of  the  Minifters  and  Churches  in  this  PROVINCE^ 
they  would  not  aft  in  Contradiftion  to,  their  Prin 
ciples,  by  coming  into  fomething  of  this  Nature. 
But  whether  this,  or  any  other  Method,  may  be 
judged  mod  effe&ual  to  difcourage  the  Itinerancy, 
the  Difcouragement  of  the  Thing  it  /<?/f  appears  to 
me  to  be  a  Matter  of  no  fmall  Importance  to  the 
Well-being  of  thefe  Churches  :  And  if  the  Minifters9 
at  their  Ajfociation  -Meetings,  would  ferioufly  con- 
fider  of  forne  Way,  in  which  this  might  be  beft 
done,  it  would  not  be  Time  ilMpent, 

Ic 


PART    V.  Intereft  of  Religion. 

It  might  alfo  be  of  good  Tendency,  at  this  Day, 
If  the  Pulpits,  in  our  feveral  Churches,  were  fo , 
guarded,  as  that  no  raw  unqualified  Perfons  might 
be  fuffered,  upon  any  Terms,  to  go  into  them :  ; 
And  if  the  Cmdidatj^of_the  Mimjlry  were  obliged 
to  pafs  other  Tryals  than  have  as  yet  been  inUfe, 
before  they  might  preach,  we  mould,  I  believe,  in 
Time,  fee  the  good  Effecl  of  it.  The  Want  of 
proper  Caution,  in  this  -  Refpecl,  has  long  been 
complained  of  ;  though  the  Inconveniencies  a- 
rifing  herefrom  have  not  been  fo  fenfibly  perceiv 
ed,  as  in  the  late  Times.  I  can  think  of  no  Re 
medy  more  futable  in  this  Cafe  than  char,  which, 
about  40  Years  ago,  was  provided  by  a  Convention 
cf  Minifters  at  BOSTON,  and  published  in  the  follow 
ing  Words,  f 

«  PROPOSALS  ,•  for  the  Prefervation  of  Re- 
<c  ligion  in  the  Churches,  by  a  due  TRIAL 
«  of  them  that  {land  CANDIDATES  OF 
«  THE  MINISTRY. 

"It  is  a  thing  of  Great  Confeqtience  to  the 
5f  Safety  and  Welfare  of  our  Churches,  and  the 
tf  Interefts  of  our  Holy  Religion  are  not  a  little 
"  concerned  in  it,  That  the  Candidates  of  the  E- 
"  vangelical  Mini/try,  from  time  to  time  arifing  a- 
"  mongus,fhould  ftill  be  offered  unto  the  Accept- 
"  ance  of  the  Churches,  under  the  Advantage 
"  of  their  having  undergone  a  due  TRIAL  of 
"  their  Qualificatians,  for  fo  folemn,  and  facred  a 
"  Service.  And  it  hath  long  been  the  Wiiri  of 


f  See  Dr.  COTTON  MATHER'S  Account  of  the  Dif- 
ctpline  in  the  Churches  of   NEW- EN  GLAND,   Page 
119,  120, 

^  grudent 


41 6        Expedients  to  promote  the        PART   V, 

"  prudent  Men,  who  wifh  well  to  the  Interefts  of 
«<  Religion,  That  none  of  our  Chriftian  Congrega- 
(f  tions  may  countenance  any,  who  fhall  fet  up 
"  for  publick  Preachers  of  the  Gofpel,  until  they 
"  can  produce  a  Tejlimonial  of  their  having  been 
*c  duely  proved  and  approved,  as  Qualified  for  fo 
"  Weighty  an  Undertaking. 

Therefore, 

"  I.  It  is  propofed,  that  every  Candidate  of  the 
«  Miniftry,  be  furniflied  with  a  TESTIMONIAL, 
"  under  the  Hands  of  at  lead  Four  or  Five  fettled 
"  Pajlors  in  our  Churches,  of  his  having  been 
«  Tried  upon  the  EXPECTED  ARTICLES, 
"  and  of  his  being  upon  Trial  found  competently 
"  Qualified,  for  the  Encouragements  of  a  publick 
tf  Preacher  among  the  Congregations  of  GOD  in 
"  the  Land.  And  that  none  prefume  to  enter  up- 
"  on  a  Courfe  of  treating  any  of  our  Congregati- 
"  ons  with  their  Sermons,  until  they  have  ap- 
"  plied  themfelves  unto  fuch  a  Number  of  our 
"  Pajlors,  for  fuch  a  TeflimoniaL 

«  II.  It  is  propofed.  That  the  EXPECTED 
t(  ARTICLES  on  which  the  Candidates  of  the 
«  Miniftry  (hall  be  Tried,  fhall  be  thefe  :  ' 

"  i.  ^He  fhall  be  one  of  a  Blamelefs  'Life  ;  and 
"  therefore  one  that  hath  aftually  joined  unto  a 
(f  particular  Church,  for  Communion  in  all  fpecial 
"  Ordinances. 

"  2.  He  fhall  give  the  Triers  an  Account  of 
"  the  Principles  that  a6l  him,  in  his  Defire  to 
"  Preach  the  Gofpel  ;  which  may  fatisfy  their 
"  Judicious  Charity,  that  he  is  a&ed  by  the  Evan- 
"  gelical  Principle  of  Love  to  CHRIST  and  Souk, 

"  in  his  Intentions. 
t 

«<  3.  The 


PART    V.  Interejt  of  Religion.  417 

"  3.  He  fhall  be  tried,  how  far  he  is  acquaint- 
"  ed  with  the  Three  learned  Languages,  and  with 
«c  the  Sciences  commonly  taught  in  the  Academical 
"  Education  :  And  fo  much  Acquaintance  there- 
<c  withal  fhall  be  required,  as  may  be  judged  ab- 
"  folutely  needful  for  .the  Services  whereto  he 
"  is  defigned. 

"  4.  Before  Three  of  the  Triers  at  leaft,  he  fhall 
*c  Preach  a  Probationary  Sermon,  on  a  Text,  .at  a 
<c  T/m*,  and  in  a  P/0c£,  which  ffoy  fhall  appoint ; 
"  and  they  fhall  upon  Hearing  pronounce  hisAbi- 
"  lities  for  Preaching  and  fraying  to  be  fuch  as 
*«  give  them  Satisfaction. 

"  5.  He  fhall  be  examined,  What  Authors  in 
4C  Theology  he  has  read  ;  and  he  fhall  particularly 
if  make  it  evident,  That  he  has  confiderately 
"  read,  Ames  his  Medulla  Theologies  :  [  Or* 
"  fome  other  generally  allowed  Body  of  Divi- 
"  nity.  ] 

"  6.  His  Abilities  to  Refute  Errors  are  to  be 
"  tried,  by  putting  Inflances  unto  him,  as 
fs  the  Triers  may  judge  mofl  convenient. 

ic  7.  He  fliall  declare  to  the  Triers  his  Adhe- 
<c  rence  unto,  the  ConfeJJlon  of  Faith,  agreed  by  the 
"  Churches  of  NEW-ENGLAND,  and  the  Affembly 
*'  of  Divines  at  WESTMINSTER. 

"  III.  It  is  propofed,  That  if  the  Pajlors  of  our 
"  Churches  are  fo  unadvifed,  as  to  employ  in 
"  publick  Preaching  any  Candidate  of  the  Miniflry 
"  who  hath  neglefted  or  contemned  the  Trial 
"  propounded  for  fuch  Perfons,  it  fhall  be'  count- 
"  ed  an  Offence  ;  and  it  fhall  be,  by  the  Paftort 
"  in  the  Neighbourhood,  fignified  unto  fuch  an 
<f  one,  that  if  he  do  not  acknowledge  his  Offence, 
"  he  flialt  be  dealt  withal,  as  one  that  Walks  dif- 
?  orderly. 

D  d  "  IV.  Ic 


<c 


4i  8        Expedients  to  promote  the        PART    V. 

L  "  IV.  It  is  propofed,  That  if  any  Congregations 
"  be  fo  unadvifed,  as  to  invite  unto  publick  Preach- 
f(  ing  any  Candidate  of  the  Mlniftry,  who  has  a- 
<c  voided  the  Trial  aforefaid,  the  Paftors  of  the 
ff  Churches  in  the  Neighbourhood,  (hall  not  only 
"  refufe  to  concur  in  'the  Ordination  of  a  Perfon 
"  who  has  fo  /fanned  the  Light,  but  alfo  write  unto 
"  the  faid  Congregations  a  fuitable  Admonition  for 
"  the  Dif  order,  by  which  they  thus  expofe  them- 
"  felves  to  the  Devices  of  Satan. 

"  V.  It  is  propofed,  That  when  any  Tried 
"  Candidate  of  the  Minijlry  is  to  be  ordained  unto 
•"  the  Paftoral  Charge,  he  (hall,  unto  the  Elders  and 
"  MeJJengers  of  the  Churches,  who  are  invited  •un- 
"  to  his  Ordination,  make  due  anfwers  unto  fuch 
Queftions  as  their  'Moderator  fhall  propound,  re- 
lating  to  his  prefent  Capacities  and  Inclination, 
"  to  ferve  the  Kingdom  of  GOD,  and  unto  the 
"  Flock  unto  which  he  fhould  now  become  re- 
"  lated." 

If  this,  for  Subflance,  or  fomething  of  the  like 
Nature,  might  be  united  in  by  Minifters  and  Peo 
ple.,  as  a  Rule  of  Con  duel,  fo  as  none  but  fuch  as 
had  gone  thro'  the  proper  Tryals  might  be  fet  up 
in  our  Pulpits,  it  would  prevent  thofe  Diforders, 
which  may  naturally  be  expected,  when  meer  No 
vices  are  encouraged,  (and  without  Examination) 
to  take  upon  them  the  Work  of  Miniilers. 

A  wrong  Ufe  of  the  Pajjlons,  in  the  Eufinefs  of 
Religion,  Is  likewife  a  Matter  highly  needful  to 
-be  guarded  againfl  at  this  Day.  There  is,  no 
Don  be,  a  good  Ufe  to  be  made  of  the  Paffions.-- 
Thcy'Wdre  not  in  vain  planted  in  our  Nature  ; 
—  •  but  becaufe  wifely  adapted  to  ferve  many  Pur- 

pofes_, 


PART    'V.         Interejl  of  Religion.  419 

pofes,  in  the  religious  as  well  as  the  natural  Life. 
—But  they  are  capable  of  being  labufed,  and  have 
actually  been  fo  ;  as  is  abundantly  evident  from 
many  of  the  Diforders  prevailing  in  thefe  Times.— 

As  a  Prefervative  againfl  fuch  Abufe,  I  know  of 
nothing  more  effe6lual  than  what  has  been  wrote 
by  the  excellent  Dr.  WATTS,  in  his  Difcourfes  upon 
this  Subjeft.  I  {hall  tranfcribe  from  them  a  few 
Inftances  of  the  Abufe  of  the  Paffions,  which,  I  be 
lieve,  will  not  be  tho't,  by  the  more  fober  among 
us,  unworthy  a  heedful  Attention  at  this  Day. 

The  firft  is,  f "  When  they  run  before  the 
*  Undemanding^  or  when  they  rife  higher  towards 
"  any  particular  Obje6t  than  the  Judgment  di- 
"  refts."  As  an  Illuflration  of  which  he  obferves, 

"Some  Perfons,  as  foon  as  they  begin  to  find  fur- 
"  ther  Light  dawning  upon  their  Minds,  and  are  let 
"  into  the  Knowledge  of  fome  Doftrine  or  Senti- 
"  ment  which  they  knew  not  before,  immediate- 
"  ly  fet  their  Zeal  to  work  :  Their  Zeal  is  all  on 
'e  a  Flame  to  propagate  and  promote  this  new 
(f  Leflbn  of  Truth,  before  their  own  Hearts  are 
"  well  eftabliihed  in  it  upon  folid  Reafonings.— 
"  How  common  a  Cafe  is  it  among  Chrijlians, 
"  and  too  often  found  among  Minifters  of  the 
cc  Gofpel,  to  give  a  Loofe  to  their  /(fFeclions  at 
ff  the  firft  Glimpfe  of  fome  pleafmg  Opinion,  or 
<c  fome  frefh  Difcovery  of  what  they  call- Truth? 
*'  They  help  out  the  Weaknefs  of  the  Proof  by 
"  the  Strength  of  their  Paffions:---This  confirms 
"  their  AiTent  too  foon,  and  they  grow  '.deaf  to 
"  the  Arguments  that  are  brought  to  oppofe  it. 

f  Vid.  His  Difcourfes  of  the  Ufe  and  Abufe  of  the  Paf- 
fons%  P,  2223  223. 

"  They 


42 o        Expedients  to  promote  the       PART    V- 

"  They  conftrue  every  Text  in  the  Scripture  to 
"  fupport  this  Do&rine,  they  bring  in  the  Pro 
"  phets  and  Apoflies  to  maintain  it.  They  fancy 
"  they  fee  it  in  a  thoufand  Verfes  of  their  Bi- 
€f  lies  ;  and  they  pronounce  all  Men  Her  clicks 

"  that  dare  maintain  the  contrary  Opinions." 

He  further  observes, 

"  There  have  been  fome  weak  Chriflians  when 
u  they  have  heard  a  Sermon,  or  read  a  Difcourfe 
"  full  of  fublime  Language  and  Darknefs,  and  e- 
"  fpecially  if  the  Stile  and  Manner  has  been  ve- 
"  ry  pathetic,  they  have  been  raptured  and  tranf- 
cc  ported,  as  though  it  contained  the  deepefl 
Cl  Senfe,  the  noblefl  Truths  of  Religion,  the  high- 
*'  efl  Difcoveries  of  Grace  and  the  Gofpel :  Where- 
"  as,  perhaps,  there  may  be  fcarce  any  Thing  in 
"  it  which  has  a  juft  Agreement  with  Reafon  or 
"  Scripture  ;  but,  when  well  examined,  it  proves 
"  to  be  a  meer  Jargon  of  Words,  a  Mixture  of 
"  unintelligible  and  unmeaning  Sounds,  with  fome 
ff  affectionate  Airs  among  them,  whereby  their 
"  Paffions  were  fir'd,  and  that  without  Knowledge, 
(f  and  beyond  all  Reafon.'* 

The  next  Abufe  of  the  Pafllons  he  mentions  is, 
*  <<  When  we  encourage  them  to  rife  high,  and 
"  grow  very  warm  about  the  lefler  Things  of 
4C  Religion,  and  yet  are  content  to  be  cold  and 
"  indifferent  in  Matters  of  the  higbeft  Importance. 
"  There  are  too  many  Chriflians  whofe  warmeft 
"  Zeal  is  employed  about  the  Mint,  the  Anift9 
cf  and  the  Cummin  of  Chriflianity,  Mat.  23 *  23. 
u  And  have  few  Pafllons  awakened,  or  engaged, 
( <  in  the  weighty  Things  of  the  Law,  or  the  Gof- 
"  pel  !  They  are  funouily  intent  upon  fpecula- 

*   P,  22(5,  5>27o 

«  tivi 


PART    V.  Interejl  of  Religion.  42  j 

"  the  Notions,  and  fome  peculiar  Opinions  that 
fc  diftinguim  the  little  Parties  of  Chnftendom,  and 
«  crumble  the  Church  to  Pieces  :  Their  Fears, 
"  their  Hopes,  their  Wiftes,  their  Defires,  their 
"  Grief  and  Joy,  are  all  employ'd  in  Party-Quar- 
"  rehy  and  a  Strife  of  Words  :  But  they  are 
"  thoughtlefs  about  the  momentous  Duties  of  Love 
"  to  GOD  and  CHRIST,  of  Juftice  to  Men,  of 
«  Charity  to  Fellow-Creatures,  and  Fellow-Chrif- 
"  tians.  So  a  fickly  Fancy  is  fond  of  Trifles, 
*'  and  carelefs  of  folid  Treafures  :  So  Children 
cc  have  their  little  Souls  wrapt  up  in  painted 
"  Toys,  while  the  Matters  of  manly  Life  awak- 
«  en  no  Defire,  no  Delight  in  them." 

The  laft  Abufe  I  fhall  mention  from  this  valu 
able  Author  is,f  "  When  the  PaiTions  are  fuffer- 
"  ed  to  entrench  upon  other  Duties  either  to 
**  GOD  or  Man,  and  withhold  us  from  the  pro- 
"  per  Bufinefs  of  our  Place  and  Station  in  the 
"  World.  Though  the  Paflions  fliould  be  indulg-  , \ 
cc  ed  at  proper  Seafons,  yet  they  fhould  not  ib 
<f  far  govern  all  the  Powers  of  Nature,  and  in- 
"  grofs  the  Moments  of  Life,  as  to  make  us  neg- 
«tf  lecT:  any  neceflary  Work  to  which  the  Provi-  i 
<f  dence  of  GOD  hath  called  us. 

This  is  the  Cafe,  when  Perfons  find  fo  much 
e{  Sweetnefs  in  their  religious  Retirements,  that 
u  they  dwell  there  too  many  Hours  of  the  Day, 
"  and  neglect  the  Care  of  their  Families,  the 
cc  Conduct  of  their  Children  and  Servants,  and  o 
"  ther  neceflary  Duties  of  Life,  and  let  all  Things 
"  run  at  Random  in  their  Houfhold,  under  the 
"  Excufe  of  Religion,  and  Converfe  with  GOD. 


t  P.  234,  235. 

«  'Tis 


422         Expedients  to  promote  the         PART    V. 

<c  'Tis  the  fame  culpable  Conduft,  when  Chri- 
"  flians  are  tempted  to  run  from  Sermon  to  Ser- 
c<  mon,  from  Lefture  to  Le6ture,  in  order  to 
<f  maintain  their  fpiritual  Pleafures,  with  a  flight 
"  and  carelefs  Performance  of  relative  Duties. 
"  'Tis  yet  more  criminal  in  Perfons  of  low  Cir- 
"  cumflarices  in  the  World,  who  would  fpend  all 
ff  their  Time  in  hearing,  or  reading  good  Things, 
"  or  at  fome  religious  AfTemblies  or  Conferences, 
"  while  they  grofly  and  grievoufly  neglect  their 

[  *'  common  Duties  of  providing  for  themfelves 
"  and  their  Children.  They  are  ready  to  expe6l 
"  the  Rich  ihould  maintain  them,  while  they 
f(  make  their  devout  Affe6tions  an  Excufe  for 
"  their  ihameful  Idlenefs  and  Sloth.  Let  us  re- 
"  member  there  is  a  Time  for  working  as  well  as 
"  a  Time  for  praying  or  hearing.  Every  Thing  is 

"  "  beautiful  in  its  Seafen." 

Inftances  of  the  Abufe  of  the  Paffions,  in  thefe 
Ways,  have  not  been  wanting  in  thefe  Times  : 
Nor  unlefs  fome  Perfons  are  made  fenfible  of  it, 
and  take  Care  to  keep  their  Paffions  within  the 
/H  Reflraints  of  Reafon,  may  it  be  expefted  that 
UjLThings  fliould  be  reduced  to  a  State  of  Order. 
There  is  the  Religion  of  the  Underftanding  and 
Judgment ,  and  Will,  as  well  as  of  the  Affeftions  ; 
and  if  little  Account  is  made  of  the  former,  while 
great  Strefs  is  laid  upon  the  latter,  it  can't  be  but 
People  ihould  run  into  Diforders.  "  A  meer  paf- 
fionate  Religion  lies  very  much  expos'd  to  all  the 
wild  Temptations  of  Fancy  and  Enthuflafm  :" 
Nor  can  it  be  too  much  guarded  againft. 

Another  Thing  very  neceflary,  at  this  Day,  is 
the  Ufe  of  a  Jtrift  Difcipline  in  our  Churches. 
From  whence  it  arifes  that  our  Difcipline  has  been 
fo  lax,  efpecially  in  the  Years  that  are  lately  pad, 


PART    V.  Inter  eft  of  Religion.  423 

I  {hall  not  take  upon  me  to  determine.     The  Fa6t 
is  notorious.— Han't  diforderly  flPalkers  been  fuffer- 
ed  to  take  their  Courfe,  without  the  Adminiftrati- 
on  of  thofe  Cenfures  which  are  proper  to  theKing- 
dom  of  JESUS  CHRIST  ?  Nayijyhere  Perfons  have 
openly  behaved  in  an  unchriflian  Manner  towards 
thofe  of  the  Community  they  were  join'd  to,  both  ; 
Paftors  and  People,  have   they  been  fo  much  as! 
reproved  for  it-  in  a  Church  I/Fay  ?     Have  they' 
not  rather  been  left  to  tiieinfelves  to  aft  as  they 
pleafe,  without  pi;', lie  Notice,  any  more  than  if 
they  fuflained  no  Relation  to  the  Church  of  GOD? 
And  if  it  fliould,  in  a  Meafure  be  attributed  to 
this,  that  there  has  been  the  Increafe  of  Diforders, 
would  is  be  befide  the  Truth  ?-—Difcipline  is  ne^ 
ceffary  in  all  Societies  whatever  :  And  where  this 
is  neglected,  if  there  is  the  Appearance  of  Confti- 
fion,  what  is  it  more  than. may  juflly  be  expect 
ed  ? — I  prefume  not  to  dictate  ,•— -  But  'tis  eafy 
to  foretell,  without  a  Spirit  of  Prophecy,  if  there  j 
is  not  a  Revival  ofDiftipline,  there  will  be  the  (5k-  j 
tinuance "of  Dljof tier.— Our  fathers,  under  the  like 
Difficulties  with  thofe  we  now  complain  of,  have 
fet  us  an  Example:  And  I  wifh,  we  their  Pqfterity 
had  upon  our  Minds  as  juit  a  Senfe  of  the  Necef- 
fity  of  ORDER  to  the  Well-being  of  the  Church  of 
CHRIST,  as  they  difcovered  in  all  their  Managements. 

The  lad  Thing  I  fhall  mention  as  necelTary, 
at  this  Day,  is,  a_clue  Care  tc^frpve  all  Things, 
that  we  may  hold  f aft  that  which  is  good.  This 
an  infpir'd  Apoftle  has  directed  to  :  '  And,  per 
haps,  there  never  was  a  Time  when  a  Regard 
to  this  Advice  was  more  needful.  We  have 
feen  enough  to  convince  us,  that  Man  may  not  be 
tmfted  in  ;  that  the  Determination*,  wnedier  of 
fmgle  Perfons ,  ci  fuhlic  Bodies  of  Men,  be  they  who 

they 


424        Expedients  to  promote,  &c.      PART  V. 

they  will,  or  their  Pretences  what  the  will,  are 
not  to  be  received  with  an  implicit  Faith. — if  \ve 
would  act  up  to  our  Chara&er  as  Men,  or  Chrifti- 
ans,  we  muff;  not  fubmit  blindfold  to  the  Dictates 
,j}f  others  ;  No,,  but  we  (hould  ourfelves  exa 
mine  into  the  Things  of  GOD  and  another  World: 
Nor  can  we  b£  too  follicitous,  fo  far  as  we  are 
able,  to  fee  with  our  own  Eyes,  and  believe  with 
our  own  Under  Handings. 

Only  in  all  our  Inquiries  of  this  Nature,  let  the  Word 
cfGOJDbe  our  R.ulet  This  only  may  with  Safety  be  de 
pended  on.-— u  I  fee  plainly,  and  with  my  own  Eyes,  (faid 
*'  the  excellent  Mr,  CHILLINGWORTH  ),  that  there  are 
*'  Popes  againft  Popes,  Councils  againft  Councils,  fomeFa- 
**  thers  againft  others,  the  fame  Fathers  againft  themfelves, 
*'  a  Confent  of  Fathers  of  one  Age  againil  aConfent  of  Fa- 
"  thers  of  another  Age,  the  Church  of  one  Age  againft 
<e  the  Church  of  another  Age."  He  adds  the  following 
noble  Words,  in  which,  if  we  could  all  heartily  join,  it 
would  be  happy  for  us  at  this  Day  ;  "  Ther"  is  no  fuffi- 
<c  cient  Certainty  but  of  Scriprure  only.  — THs  therefore, 
**  and  this  only,  I  have  Reafon  to  believe  :  This  I  will 
*'  profefs  j  according  tp  this  I  will  live  ;  and  for  this,  if 
;'  there  be  Occafion*  I  will  not  only  willingly,  but  even 
"  gladlv,  looie  my  Life.-—  Propofe  me  any  Thing  out  of 
**  this  Book,  and  require  whether  I  believe  it  or  no  ;  and 
!<  feem  it  never  fo  incomprehenfible  to  humane  Reafon,  I 
:*  will  fubfcribe  to  it  with  Heart  and  Hand  :  as  knowing 
cc  no  Demonftration  can  be  ftronger  than  this  j  GOD 
4t  hath  ;aid  fo,  therefore  it  is  true," 

I  have  now  finifhed  what  I  at  firft  propofed,  tho'  with 

the  Omiflion  of  many  Things  I  intended  to  have  faid. 

The  LORD  give  us  Understanding  In  all  Things.  —  The 
GOD  of  Peace  make  us  per f eft  in  every  good  Work  to  do  bis 
Will)  working  in  us  that  which  is  well-pleaftng  in  his  Sight, 
thro'  JESUS  CHRIST  -,  to  wham  i>$  Glory  for  Wtr  and 
ever.  AMEN' 


FINIS. 


' 


7  C 


# 
7   1 


^ 


•  :•?.  '  -u. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  I*JBR^ 


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